Blades eye £1m Norris

SHEFFIELD United will have to pay close to £1m to lure Plymouth Argyle's David Norris away from Home Park as their Championship rivals look to exploit English football's shortage of goal scoring midfielders.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Aug 2007, 11:36 BST
Updated 22nd Aug 2007, 11:37 BST

Bryan Robson, United's manager, has made a creative talent his top priority in the transfer market as he prepares to put the finishing touches to his squad before the deadline for new signings later this month.

Norris is understood to be among the few players considered by Robson and his staff to possess the required quality to merit making a bid. Although a concrete offer is yet to be forthcoming, Lee Hendrie's cartilage injury has made the need for reinforcements even more acute.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Norris, 26, has already attracted interest from Ipswich Town and Southampton but Plymouth's decision to turn down approaches of around 600,000 underlines their determination to hold on to their prize asset.

Despite pouring cold water on reports that Jon Stead and Rob Hulse are poised for moves to the Premier League with Derby County and Wigan Athletic respectively, Robson has so far proved unwilling to shed any light on new arrivals at Shirecliffe. Plymouth's valuation of Norris would not be a problem for Robson following plc chairman Kevin McCabe's pledge of substantial funds to revamp the squad. But one possible stumbling block could be the player's preference for operating along the right flank.

With Hendrie and Gary Naysmith (knee) confined to the treatment room, United are suffering from a shortage of numbers on the left.

Meanwhile former manager , Warnock has confirmed his interest in the managerial vacancy at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The SPL side are bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with no points from three games but Warnock said: "I have often talked about managing up in Scotland. We have family up there and my wife would like to live up in Scotland at some point.

"I'm dying to get back into the game and if Inverness want to talk to me then I'd be delighted."

United are considering their nomination to the three man FA arbitration panel set to consider their decision to sue West Ham for breach of contract following the Carlos Tevez Affair.

The process was immediately triggered when lawyers acting on behalf of United served notice of their intention to claim damages from Upton Park to compensate for their relegation last term.

Related topics:BladesWarnockLee Hendrie