City deny bid for Hulse

Norwich City have denied reports that they have had a £2m offer for Leeds striker Rob Hulse rejected by the Yorkshire club. “It is known he is a player we admire but we have not made a formal offer for the player,” was City chief executive Neil Doncaster's only response to the claim yesterday.

Norwich City have denied reports that they have had a £2m offer for Leeds striker Rob Hulse rejected by the Yorkshire club.

“It is known he is a player we admire but we have not made a formal offer for the player,” was City chief executive Neil Doncaster's only response to the claim yesterday.

Canaries boss Nigel Worthington confirmed his interest in the 26-year-old front-man last week, admitting he would love to see Hulse alongside Welshman Rob Earnshaw in a Canaries strip next season - a campaign that, coincidentally, begins at Leeds on August 5.

However, it is believed that Norwich have only got as far as making an inquiry about Hulse.

Yesterday's pronouncement from Yorkshire will serve a purpose if it lights the blue touch paper for clubs who are interested in acquiring Hulse's services - once that process is set in motion it could easily spark an auction.

Sheffield United are reportedly also interested in the former Crewe player and, having secured promotion to the top flight, have cash available. Norwich, on the other hand, are in the last season of their parachute payments that soften the blow of relegation and, with no obvious saleable assets, are unlikely to be in a position to find £2m for any transfer deal.

The report from Leeds claimed a £2m Norwich bid - around double what Leeds paid West Brom for the player just a year ago - had been turned down by chairman Ken Bates after talks with manager Kevin Blackwell.

It was hailed as a significant step in Leeds' transformation from a club that, until recently, was forced to sell its best players to pay off crippling debts to one that can now afford to say no to rivals intent on plundering their best players.