City chief Paul Lambert has stated his desire to keep striker Chris Martin at Carrow Road amid reported interest from the Championship.
According to SkySports.com yesterday, numerous second tier clubs are interested in adding the talented Beccles-born forward to their ranks.
And with the 21-year-old in such a rich vein of form, with 13 goals already to his name this season, it is no surprise to see others sniffing around, especially as Martin will be out of contract in the summer.
But speaking to reporters at today’s pre-Colchester United press conference, Lambert revealed that talks over a new deal had already started, The Scot is most certainly a fan.
“I’ve spoken to Chrissy and a few of the other lads,” he said at Colney this morning, ahead of that East Anglian grudge match at the Weston Homes Community Stadium tomorrow.
“As I’ve said before he’s one of the best finishers I’ve seen for a long time. He can shoot with both feet and I know he’s only 21 but I think he’s come back here from his loan spell and adapted really quickly.
“Honestly, every time he gets the ball I think he’s going to score. You always sense something can happen.
“If you’ve got lads who can score goals, you’ve got a chance. The front three, as everybody knows, have been in terrific form.
“We’ve spoken to Chris, hopefully everything goes alright but he’s not one of these lads who sits and worries about it, he just gets on with it.”
Ahead of tomorrow’s short trip to Essex, there was some good news on the injury front, with Stephen Hughes and new arrival Zak Whitbread ready and raring for action.
Former Millwall man Whitbread will be “involved in the squad” and Hughes has recovered from a calf strain to give the City boss a whole host of options.
One player not at his disposal, however, will be Jon Otsemobor, after he completed his free transfer switch to Southampton this week.
But Lambert admitted that finances played a part in the decision to let him go, with the Liverpudlian likely to have been sitting on a decent contract.
It wasn’t anything to do with him as a player or person though, and the Scot only had good words to say about the talented but frustrating right-back.
“He was great about the place, never a problem but he was out of contract in the summer and he wants to play. I couldn’t guarantee anything but he did great for me if the truth be known.
“Also, there is the finance to look at as well but I wish him luck down there. He was a great lad.”
He also had ‘great lads’ during his time in north Essex and even though Lambert’s relationship with the powers that be at Colchester has soured, he remembers his time working with the playing squad fondly.
“As lads, they were great for me, I enjoyed working with them,” commented the Canary boss, with U’s reporters keen to put a positive slant on his time at the Weston Homes Community Stadium
“I brought a lot of them to the club and the majority were great – not just as footballers but people. They gave me everything and I couldn’t ask for any more, I really couldn’t.
“But this happens is football, you get an opportunity and Norwich, with the support they’ve got and the fan base – it’s fantastic.”
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