Sources in the north west suggest that flying Wigan winger Yanic Wildschut is a target for City.
It is understood the Dutchman is the subject of a £3m tug-of-war between Norwich City and their Premier League play-off rivals Derby County.
The 25-year-old Dutch speed ace initially joined the Latics on loan from Middlesbrough in the autumn of 2015; joining Wigan full-time in last season’s January window.
This season, Wildschut has been a near ever-present and has five goals to his name – including both Latics strikes in their 3-2 home defeat by Ipswich.
City’s interest may well herald the exit of Robbie Brady, with Burnley reported to in pole position to secure the Irishman’s signature, although as things stand he’s set to line-up against Birmingham City later today.
Whilst right-footed, Wildschut operates down the left and would therefore be a like for like replacement for Brady and add some reinforcements to a left side that has already been weakened by Martin Olsson’s move to Swansea.
His potential arrival would signal the ‘domino effect’ Alex Neil mentioned recently when quizzed about the timing of any transfer window ins and outs.
Given City’s failure to land two Dutch left-backs this week – Mitchell Dijks and Marvin Zeegelaar – the club will be keen to get this one over the line and equally be keen not to lose out to promotion rivals Derby in the two-way battle for the player’s signature.
For now however the club is remaining tight-lipped tonight as speculation inevitably mounts ahead of next week’s deadline.
The Dutchman’s overall performance – capped by the game’s winner – in Wigan’s 2-1 victory at Huddersfield in November had Latics’ head coach Warren Joyce purring in appreciation.
The City target was ‘similar to Marcus Rashford’ as a winger-turned striker, claimed the former Old Trafford coach, now in charge at the JJB. ‘It might be a big statement,’ Joyce told reporters afterwards. ‘His top end pace is quicker than Nani and [Cristiano] Ronaldo.’
If the Wildschut deal is a goer it would be City’s first major signing of the window that promised a shake up but has so far delivered only one departure from Carrow Road although reports suggest that Sergi Canos may yet join Martin Olsson as he looks to head in a Brentford direction.
In a week that has seen Josh Murphy join his twin brother Jacob in signing a long-term deal, the talk of Canos departing – one in whom the City faithful had rested much hope – tells of one who has failed to deliver, still finds himself behind both Murphys in the pecking order and who has failed to embrace the all-round qualities needed from an Alex Neil wide man.
At 25 years-old and with a solid if unspectacular CV behind him, Wildschut would bring with him an appreciation of the work-rate required of a Championship wide man, in addition to an ability to chip in with the odd goal.
His arrival would also likely end the dream of those who yearn for a Murphy on either wing, as per the FA Youth Cup winning formula. As a right-footed left winger it’s fair to assume that Wildschut could operate with some comfort on the right flank.
It’s also reasonable to assume, regardless of what transpires at Carrow Road this afternoon, that the next few days may yet be interesting.
The clock’s ticking until that window “slams shut” and a squad, seemingly in need of a major overhaul, still awaits the first arrival. Let’s hope for a productive final four days.
Quite Gaz. 28 days and nowt. Did the Olsson money merely appease a tricky cash flow? If so, then no-one comes in until Brady goes out. Might be wrong.
I was hugely dissapointed the deal for Dijks fell through, he actually looked a decent signing on paper. Surprise by the size of fee mentioned as well as the pedigree of the player.
However, it’s fair to say any number of “irons in the fire” will not and should not be lauded as proof of some long overdue ambition if the deals do,not come to fruition.
After 28 days of the window, to be in a situation where the only activity has been the sale of one of our better players is uncomfortable and slightly worrying. It’s a situation that may again be aired with feeling if the result goes awry this afternoon. Once again there will be uncomfortable questions asked with some feeling if Birmingham do a number on us.
With that in mind, once again, only a win is acceptable today.
2) Gary – it’s beginning to look that way; although, to be fair to both Alex Neil and Jez Moxey, they did say before the window opened that we’d have to sell first.
Personally, I was hoping that some of the fringe squad players might be moved on and it’s probably indicative that, either no one wants them, or that they are happy to stay, our wage structure is now out of kilter with the Championship norm.
In a way, does the news that Maddison is here for the rest of the season, not feel like an arrival? I’m hoping that he, along with Godfrey, Pritchard and the Murphy’s might actually see some game time. Typical that having put in a MoM performance against Leeds, Thompson is now out for the season. A central mid-field of Thompson and Howson sounds very promising…..shame that the Canos signing seems not to be working, and I’m still totally baffled by allowing Toffolo to be at Scunthorpe while we continue to be linked with another League One left back.
Hoping for a win this afternoon, but we all know our record against teams on a long losing streak!
O T B C
Let’s face it, we have no idea what’s going on, if anything. I suspect most of what’s in the media is put there by agents trying to attract a better deal for their man, or perhaps by selling clubs.
It appears that once again nobody wants Lafferty otherwise he would surely have gone by now.
The nature of the transfer window is that everybody wants to hold out for the best deal until as late as possible. That’s why the final day of the transfer window is normally a bit of a blur, and almost a lottery.
However Monday could be interesting because in their stupidity the Premier and Football Leagues have scheduled 14 games in the top 2 division for deadline day. So it’s just possible some movement will have to happen a bit earlier than usual – or of course it might not be able to happen at all.
Looks highly likely we will finish this window weaker than before, with Neil still using the urgency to fill the left side as a deflection tactic for not bolstering the painfully pathetic spine and still without a genuine leader. It’s just awful to watch.
Does anyone know if there is a recall option on Adreu up at Dundee 16 goals this season surely he could have scored a few for city if given a chance,
Tommo on sky is reporting a dull game as long as there is 3 points at the end who cares.
REST IN PEACE SIR JOHN HURT didn’t know he was a canary fan.