Clingan on Coleman's list

Coventry City have admitted an interest in Norwich City midfielder Sammy Clingan - but he is understood to be one of a number of targets being considered by manager Chris Coleman.

Contrary to national newspaper reports, the Sky Blues have not made a �1m bid for the 25-year-old Northern Ireland international.

But club sources say they are monitoring the situation closely on Clingan, who scored six times as the Canaries were relegated from the Championship last term.

If a seven-figure bid is on the cards, Norwich manager Bryan Gunn may find it hard to turn down for a player who clearly has loftier ambitions than League One football next season.

Clingan was reported to have been the subject of an offer from Premier League club Fulham in January.

Gunn has lost goalkeeper David Marshall to Cardiff, while winger Lee Croft has already departed before the expiry of his contract at the end of the month - and Clingan and forward Wes Hoolahan are among those tipped for a swift return to the Championship.

Clingan is midway through a two-year contract, having joined City for free a year ago, and could well fit into Coleman's thinking, with doubts over the futures of midfielders Michael Doyle and Guillaume Beuzelin.

Gunn is already making plans of his own, with speculation linking him with to an ever-growing list of lower league players.

The latest names to appear are those of striker Darren Byfield and Walsall winger Troy Deeney.

Byfield is a free agent after leaving Doncaster at the end of last season and, according to Sky Sports, Norwich are hoping to steal a march on their rivals by luring him to Carrow Road.

The 32-year-old has bags of experience, having appeared for 13 different clubs, mainly in the lower leagues, having started as a trainee with Aston Villa. A Jamaican international, his wife is the singer Jamelia.

Deeney scored nine goals in 12 games as a striker, having moved back to his favourite position from the right flank and was watched by City scouts in the first half of last season, when Gunn was head of player recruitment.

The 20-year-old is believed to be unhappy that his form has not been rewarded with an improved contract to give him parity with some of his team-mates.

"Troy has a clause in his contract which means it gets reviewed when his performances trigger certain aspects of the deal," his agent, Alex Black, said.

"He has achieved what is necessary to earn an extension, but the club haven't been forthcoming in offering new terms. Troy has 12 months left currently and is happy at Walsall, but he feels if the club can't determine his long-term future, then we will have to talk about where we go."