should have been this...

Blades linked with Earnshaw

Norwich were last night braced for an approach from Premiership battlers Sheffield United for hot property Robert Earnshaw.

Neil Warnock is reportedly poised to test the Canaries' resolve to keep hold of the 17-goal striker after pulling out of the ?6m auction to sign Preston's David Nugent.

Warnock is a confirmed admirer of the Championship top gun with fresh transfer speculation linking the Blades' boss with a double swoop for Earnshaw and midfield powerhouse Dickson Etuhu.

"I know I'm not necessarily going to get all my targets," he said. "But in the next week to ten days I'm hoping to bring in another two or three players. I'm talking to clubs all the time about bringing players in."

The Yorkshire outfit is the latest top flight club linked with a January move for the ?4m rated Welsh predator following interest from Portsmouth and Watford.

Belgian hitman Emile Mpenza and Leeds' Northern Irish international David Healy have also emerged as potential targets after Warnock refused to pay over the odds for Nugent.

"I think David is outrageously overpriced for what we are talking about," he said. "He's a good player and I'd love to have him, but at the moment the fee is not realistic. I can understand that because Preston are trying to get into the Premiership. They've a great chance and he is one of their major assets, if not the major asset.

"I won't spend money for the sake of it. We've made a couple of big offers, but they were turned down, so we go about our business in the normal way."

Canaries' boss Peter Grant stated last week the club had received no firm bids for Earnshaw but reiterated every player has their price in the annual transfer window.

Luton's 14-goal striker Rowan Vine - a player long admired by Grant - is now at the centre of a ?2m tug-of-war between Championship big hitters Birmingham and West Brom.

Blues co-owner David Sullivan will back Steve Bruce in the market to replace injured targetman Nicklas Bendtner.

Norwich's Celtic midfield target Stephen Pearson was last night still to agree personal terms with Derby after the two clubs had agreed a ?800,000 fee. Reports north of the border suggest the Canaries chief has also enquired about Pearson's Bhoys club mate David Marshall.

The 21-year-old keeper has been restricted to just two appearances for the Hoops this season behind Artur Boruc.

Grant has identified back up to Paul Gallacher as a key part of his January transfer dealings. Celtic counterpart Gordon Strachan could be reluctant to part with the Scottish international with third choice stopper Michael McGovern already on loan at St Johnstone.

Posted By: thirsty work on January 10th 2007 at 09:07:51

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