SAFC target Grant Holt tight lipped on Norwich City future
Norwich City's Grant Holt (centre) celebrates with team-mates after scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday May 5, 2012. See PA story SOCCER Arsenal. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. Maximum 45 images during a match. No video emulation or promotion as 'live'. No use in games, competitions, merchandise, betting or single club/player services. No use with unofficial audio, video, data, fixtures or club/league logos.
GRANT Holt is remaining tight-lipped on his future after the striker had a transfer request rejected by Norwich City.
The 31-year-old stunned Norwich on Friday after asking to leave Carrow Road – a request the Canaries immediately turned down.
Holt’s wish to leave sparked speculation over the weekend linking the 17-goal frontman with a move to Sunderland – a switch that would see him located closer to his native Carlisle.
Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill has made no secret of his desire to boost his striking options after Nicklas Bendtner’s season-long loan from Arsenal came to an end.
And Holt certainly fits the bill as a goal-scoring orthodox centre-forward capable of leading the line, particularly with Wolves frontman and Sunderland target Steven Fletcher thought to be keen on a move to Everton.
But sources close to Holt suggest the frontman, who missed out on a place in England’s Euro 2012 squad, is giving no indication of a preferred exit strategy.
Certainly, there will be no lack of interest in Holt after Celtic, Rangers and Leicester had all been keen on the former Nottingham Forest and Shrewsbury man during the January transfer window.
But Norwich will be determined to keep hold of their skipper, who has two years remaining on his contract after winning the Canaries’ Player of the Year accolade for three successive seasons.
Norwich chief executive David McNally said: “We did receive a transfer request from Grant Holt. It was rejected immediately. We are very relaxed with managing the end-of-season activities.”
Meanwhile, Sunderland hope West Ham’s promotion at the weekend will seal George McCartney’s move to Upton Park on a permanent basis.
The Black Cats’ left-back, on season-long loan at the Hammers, saw his side through to a 2-1 win over Blackpool in Saturday’s play-off final at Wembley – returning the Londoners to the Premier League after a one-season absence.
And that is expected to trigger a bid by manager Sam Allardyce to take the 31-year-old to the Boleyn Ground full-time.
Sunderland are understood to have a gentleman’s agreement with West Ham that promotion would lead to them taking on a player who has never settled at the Stadium of Light second-time around.
Now Sunderland will wait to see if West Ham follow through on their initial plan for the defender.
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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