The news that Korey Smith has signed a one-year extension to his current deal at Carrow Road brings the number of players happy to put pen to paper for new boss Chris Hughton to four.
And while the home-grown Academy product might not be in quite the same bracket as Russell Martin (new three-year), Andrew Surman (new three-year) and John Ruddy (new four-year), it is evidence enough that Hughton is picking his way through the dressing room looking after the boys.
Loose ends tied here – and there. Decisions being made ahead of the start of pre-season training.
The biggest conversation has, of course, yet to materialise – though it now appears that he has at least spoken to club skipper Grant Holt; albeit not yet to see the whites of his eyes.
With Holt’s intentions still commanding much tabloid interest – the Daily Mail suggesting that West Ham United had now upped their offer for the 31-year-old to £6 million – push is fast becoming shove as the new manager seeks to settle his squad down into their pre-season schedule.
Key to which will be knowing whether or not he has a happy and settled skipper up top – or a large situation vacant and £6 million cheque burning a hole in his back pocket.
And with the sure and certain knowledge that should Holt depart these Norfolk shores, so the chase for his replacement will then come to dominate every other conversation.
If only for a quiet life on the score, Hughton must be hoping that a face-to-face meeting can soften the striker’s stance and, new deal done, allow everyone to get down to business of preparation.
My money would still be on Holt staying; but there again the Hammers have a habit of throwing money at people – as Messrs Bowyer, Dyer and Bellamy will attest.
And, as has been said before, I don’t begrudge anyone making the most of their achievements; Holt sits in a space that – in every likelihood – he will never be in again.
After last season, he is at the very peak of his earning potential; given the long and windy road that he has trod to get to this position, people can be all-too swift to judge – what would you, in all honesty, do?
Equally, the Canary board will be curious as to how far the Hammers are prepared to push in their quest to prize City’s strike asset into the East End of London.
Whatever anyone ever says, every player has a price; it is a meat market out there.
For me, the manner in which Damien Francis’ transfer saga dragged out during the course of one summer should be all the evidence anyone needs of the corrosive effect having a want-away player in your midst can have on everyone’s best intentions.
Far better for events to become certain that to have to work with the kind of ‘Is he? Isn’t he?’ pantomime that followed Francis around; he went ‘on strike’ that afternoon at Colchester away. No-one actually knew whether he would deign people with his presence for the big, Carrow Road friendly of that summer – Inter at home, if memory still serves.
Given the clear need for the Canaries to start the new campaign briskly, to have such uncertainty hanging over everyone’s heads is not in anyone’s interests.
And if too much water has flowed under the bridge – if player and agent alike are unwilling to ‘row back’ from the intractable position that chairman Alan Bowkett talked of on the day of Hughton’s appointment, then get the job done.
Nip it in the bud; give the manager a clean slate to work from – and go again.
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