Ferret

Amid all the fuss and performance that is the 'Will he? Won't he..?' saga of Billy Sharp, Freddy Eastwood and Co, that little link between Wigan and City coach Martin Hunter almost got over-looked.

It popped up in the People on Sunday and with the Canaries issuing the traditional 'We don't comment on speculation…' denial, it was left to the Manchester Evening News to push the story on.

To give the whole tale a few more legs, as Ferret's pals …

It will, old Ferret thinks, be a fascinating few weeks.

Because suddenly the world is awash with 5ft 10in-type strikers – all of whom are itching to get away and make rather more of their goal-grabbing talents.

And just as there is a clutch of boys looking to cash their lower league chips in this summer, so there are also a clutch of clubs looking to bag themselves a new, good little 'un before the summer is out.

For some, they need to get one in before the …

The fun and games continue.

For just as Joey Barton's exit out of Manchester City found someone throwing a ?300,000 “loyalty payment” into the mix at the last possible moment, so it now seems that David Marshall's potential move to Norwich could have a new fly in the ointment too – the prospect of a new contract offer from the Bhoys.

Or else, so his agent Willie Mackay claims after the Glasgow giants last month rejected Norwich's initial ?500,000 bid for the …