DAVID CUFFLEY Norwich City's search for a new striker was today reported to have spread to South America.While Scunthorpe's Billy Sharp was understood to have been at Carrow Road yesterday to discuss a possible £2m-plus move to Carrow Road, Peruvian international Miguel Mostto became the latest name linked with the Canaries.

DAVID CUFFLEY

Norwich City's search for a new striker was today reported to have spread to South America.

While Scunthorpe's Billy Sharp was understood to have been at Carrow Road yesterday to discuss a possible £2m-plus move to Carrow Road, Peruvian international Miguel Mostto became the latest name linked with the Canaries.

Manager Peter Grant admitted that City had looked at 29-year-old Mostto, who plays his club football for Cienciano, but said they had decided not to pursue their interest in him.

“We have seen him and he's a very good player - he's one of the players we have looked at. He's done very well, but I didn't think he was for us,” said Grant.

“The structure of the team is such that I didn't think he was right - perhaps if he was the last piece of the jigsaw but not as the first piece of the jigsaw. We have more important priorities at the moment.”

Mostto is now heading elsewhere - after agreeing to join Coca-Cola Championship rivals Barnsley for a fee of around £400,000.

Barnsley boss Simon Davey said they had fended off interest from both Norwich and Leicester to sign Mostto, capped 10 times by Peru.

Davey said: “We had to fight off a lot of competition for his signature from Norwich and Leicester as well as a Turkish club.

“He was identified to us by a contact of mine. I watched him and was very impressed.”

Mostto has scored 59 goals in 134 games for Cienciano. The player has passed a medical, but Davey said: “I am still very conscious that the transfer hinges on obtaining a work permit and international clearance.”

City made it clear they were spreading the net more widely this summer in their search for new players, but this is the first indication that they have looked beyond Europe.

Grant, meanwhile, was reluctant to comment on progress with Sharp after Scunthorpe chairman Steve Wharton confirmed they had given City permission to talk to the 21-year-old striker.

“Billy's one of the players I am interested in, but unfortunately until we get people through the door, wearing the strip, I don't want to say anything. I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot,” said Grant.

Wolves and Sheffield Wednesday have both made improved offers for Sharp, but Wharton said they had not matched Norwich's bid. Newly-promoted Scunthorpe will be looking for up to £3m once add-ons are taken into account.

Wolves, favourites to land Southend's Freddy Eastwood, were said to be “relaxed” about news that Norwich were talking to Sharp.

Wednesday, meanwhile, insist they have not given up in the chase for Sharp.

“I have heard that he has permission to speak to Norwich. In the end it will be up to the player where he goes, it is his choice. We're hoping we can reach a conclusion to this,” manager Brian Laws said.

West Bromwich Albion, Preston and Watford are all said to have shown an interest in Sharp, who scored 32 goals in all competitions last season.