Matthew Chambers Newcastle United's Shola Ameobi would be more than willing to talk about a move to Norwich City, according to his agent Steven Denos. Denos, who works for Key Sports Management Ltd based in Soho Square, ruled out a move to the MLS with Toronto for the Newcastle striker and admitted he had not heard from Middlesbrough with regards to a possible move.

Matthew Chambers

Newcastle United's Shola Ameobi would be more than willing to talk about a move to Norwich City, according to his agent Steven Denos.

Denos, who works for Key Sports Management Ltd based in Soho Square, ruled out a move to the MLS with Toronto for the Newcastle striker and admitted he had not heard from Middlesbrough with regards to a possible move.

Both clubs had reportedly been interested in the big hit-man, but the path would now appear clear for Norwich to make their move.

Denos admitted that Norwich have made no approach for Nigerian-born goal-getter yet, but expects business in the transfer market to step up a gear over the next two weeks ahead of pre-season.

Roeder is a big admirer of Ameobi, 26, having worked with the player during his stint as the Magpies manager, and the arrival of the 6ft 2in striker at Carrow Road would certainly go a long way to filling the gap left by the departures of Dion Dublin and Darren Huckerby.

“He's not going to the MLS, that's not an option we're looking at. We've had no contact from Middlesbrough and no offer in from Norwich City,” said Denos.

Denos did admit that Ameobi, who still has 12 months to run on his current contract, is surplus to requirements under Kevin Keegan, but that the Magpies would want a sizeable transfer fee if he was to leave.

Ameobi went out on loan to promoted Stoke City at the end of last season but failed to make an impact, making six appearances without scoring, and the Potters' interest in the player seems to have waned.

“Shola worked well with Glenn at Newcastle and that's what everyone must be thinking. One thing for certain is that Newcastle would want a hefty transfer fee for him,” added Denos.

“It's certainly something we would consider if Norwich approached us, we consider everything. But Norwich haven't done anything yet. If Glenn Roeder decides he'd like to take it further then we'll have a conversation.”

Denos is fully expecting the transfer market to hot up in the next couple of weeks, but this is no consolation for City fans, who are already biting their nails to the quick at the lack of fresh blood appearing at Carrow Road.

Denos also gave a useful insight into the minds of Premiership players who are looking at a move to the Championship, admitting they face two options.

He said: “It's still very early days in the transfer market. I expect a lot of deals to go through in the last week of June, very much like it was last minute in January.

“I think that the Championship will be a very competitive league again next season. People look at the likes of Bristol and Hull and people think 'let's have a go for it'.

“A player has two options. They can look at it as dropping down for a season and then being back in the Premiership. Or take, for instance, James Beattie. He moved to Sheffield United and has been banging in the goals and done really well but is not back in the Premiership. A lot of people, though, are looking at the likes of Kenwyne Jones and Michael Chopra and at what they have done.”

Chopra scored 22 goals in the Championship for Cardiff before he got a move last summer to Sunderland and a place in the Premiership. Jones scored 14 goals for Southampton the season before he got a move to Sunderland at the start of the last campaign.

Denos added: “Clubs will be jockeying for position and we'll be looking at what's available. It's a case of not wanting to jump too early. It's a case of waiting for the pieces in the jigsaw to fall into place. The next two weeks will be pivotal weeks.”