Alex Neil has confirmed rumours reported by Sky Sports, among other media outlets, that bids by Premier League club Bournemouth for striker Lewis Grabban have been rejected.
Lewis Grabban, who was originally bought from the Cherries last summer, impressed for Norwich in the Championship, scoring 12 goals, but the jury is still out as to whether he can make the step up this season. The consensus among many Norwich fans is that he can’t.
Ironically, to replace the sale of Lewis Grabban, Bournemouth purchased Callum Wilson (who Norwich were also chasing) and he has proved to be far more effective. He’s managed 23 goals in total, including a recent hat-trick versus West Ham in the Premier League.
Alex Neil has confirmed that two bids for Grabban were made, and subsequently rejected. He’s been on the record saying the following, as reported on The Pinkun:
Lewis is an important part of the squad. I’ve not had to sit him down and reassure him. Lewis is a clever boy and he can see how much he has featured under me since I have been here and he is a big part of our plans. I certainly won’t be giving players to direct rivals. That is the bottom line.
So despite speculation, Alex Neil is adamant that he will not be selling to Bournemouth. However, if a different club were to come in, the circumstances could change with emphasis being put on the fact City will not be selling to ‘direct rivals’.
Currently, Cameron Jerome is the only Norwich striker who hasn’t been linked with a move away from Carrow Road. But Alex Neil will be especially keen to hold on to his current crop of players given various transfer approaches have broken down.
Alex Neil finished his press conference by saying “People keep saying a striker. It’s a forward player I am after” which suggests that an out-and-out striker may not be what Alex Neil is searching for, in turn implying that the current selection of Jerome, Grabban and/or Hooper will suffice. It may also mean it’s more of a centre-forward or winger that Neil is looking for, rather than a replacement for Jerome or Grabban.
