Paddy Davitt Shrewsbury hitman Grant Holt is reportedly on the verge of a �450,000 Carrow Road switch. Holt was a surprise omission from the Shrews' midweek friendly against West Brom - fuelling speculation the 28-year-old is set to leave the League Two outfit.

Paddy Davitt

Shrewsbury hitman Grant Holt is reportedly on the verge of a �450,000 Carrow Road switch.

Holt was a surprise omission from the Shrews' midweek friendly against West Brom - fuelling speculation the 28-year-old is set to leave the League Two outfit.

City chief Bryan Gunn has long been linked with a possible summer swoop on the New Meadow after losing out in the race for Derby striker Liam Dickinson and cooling his interest in last season's Crystal Palace loan recruit Alan Lee.

Serbian striker Goran Maric is mulling over a contract offer following an impressive impact on the club's Scottish tour but the City boss ruled out a move for fellow trialist Michael Bridges in his on going search for a powerful frontman.

Holt still has two years left on his current contract although the Shrews could struggle to hold onto their prized asset after rejecting a bid from Colchester earlier this month.

The former Forest striker admitted recently he was 'flattered' by the Us' approach and the chance to move back up the football ladder after Shrewsbury's near miss in the League Two play-off final.

Holt plundered 20 league goals in 43 games following his club record �170,000 move from the City Ground last summer but Paul Simpson's men were beaten by Gillingham at Wembley.

The Shrews' boss remained tight-lipped when questioned repeatedly by reporters over Holt's unexplained absence following his side's midweek West Brom friendly. Simpson claimed Holt was 'unavailable' after the Carlisle-born forward had played 90 minutes on his return from ankle surgery in Saturday's Shropshire Senior Cup penalty shoot out defeat against AFC Telford.

Gunn recently distanced himself from fresh stories linking City with a move for Holt during the club's Scottish tour.

“That's speculation,” he said. “Obviously at this stage of the season there is a lot of speculation about, some of it has some truth to it others completely off the mark, but it's something we have got to put up with as a football club and we are working hard behind the scenes in our efforts to get players in. When we get the medicals done and when we get the player's signature on the contract we will tell everyone about it.”

Shrewsbury's league rivals Notts County are also reportedly tracking Holt following their Middle Eastern takeover and Sven-Goran Eriksson's high profile arrival - despite County signing prolific ex-Coventry striker Lee Hughes in the past few days.

Meanwhile, City continue to be linked with a possible double raid for Crystal Palace left back Rhoys Wiggins and Barnet wide man Albert Adomah.

City would need to agree a compensation package with Palace for the out-of-contract Welsh U21 defender who is set to snub a new offer from the Eagles. Adomah is also attracting interest from Blackpool and Watford after ten goals for the Bees last season. The 21-year-old missed Barnet's recent pre-season friendly draw with Arsenal through an ankle injury but featured for 85 minutes in the club's midweek draw at Cambridge United.