Norwich City striker Gary Hooper has reportedly been in talks with Championship club Sheffield Wednesday over the potential transfer of the highly-rated forward. The latest report in the The Scunthorpe Telegraph suggests that Wednesday are interested in taking the striker on a season-long loan basis, as opposed to permanent transfer. This report is reinforced by the fact that Gary Hooper was absent from today’s training session which was open to the public, according to a Read Norwich correspondent who attended the event.
Gary Hooper has never really been the main man at Norwich which is ultimately the reason a move is on the cards. Alex Neil prefers to plays one striker up front, even more so in the Premier League, whereas Gary Hooper has always previously played with a strike partner. Furthermore, many fans would argue that his attributes are not best suited to playing as a lone striker, with the English forward lacking the pace the Premier League readily requires.
It comes as no surprise then that other clubs are sniffing about. Sheffield Wednesday, now under new ownership, probably have the funds to purchase Gary Hooper whose contract runs out at the end of the season. That fact in itself may be a further incentive to sell now, as Hooper will be able to walk free in a year’s time, offering no benefit for Norwich. As a result, a season-long loan may not be what Norwich want, however it is becoming increasingly clear that his chances this season will be limited.
Previous links have suggested that old Celtic boss Neil Lennon is interested in buying the player, but the rumour has since failed to materialise.
However, The Pink’un has reported that Alex Neil does not ‘expect any departures at the moment’.
The Norwich City boss went on to say:
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding Gary in particular. Sheffield Wednesday has been one, Celtic has been mentioned, probably another couple of clubs that have gone out of my head at the moment but until we hear anything concrete then it is just speculation.
