Keeper deal up in the air

The future of Norwich City goalkeeper Joe Lewis was up in the air today after he was reported to be thinking over a shock £400,000 move to Peterborough United.

The League Two club are prepared to break their transfer record to take the 20-year-old 'keeper to London Road.

Lewis has yet to play a first-team game for City but has been involved with the England Under-21 squad this season. He has just been recalled from a successful loan spell at Morecambe, where his last appearance was in Saturday's 3-2 win over Peterborough.

City boss Glenn Roeder, however, insisted nothing was agreed with Posh.

“There is an element of truth in it but it is far from a done deal,” he said.

“People are jumping the gun. It's too early to say anything other than Peterborough have shown an interest in Joe after seeing him play for Morecambe.

“Sammy McIlroy wanted to keep him on loan for the rest of the season but I was never going to let him go on loan again.”

With Matthew Gilks still sidelined, Roeder said Lewis would have been on the substitutes' bench at Crystal Palace on New Year's Day but for a bout of illness. But he admitted City were very well off for 'keepers.

“We have got a very young goalkeeper in David Marshall and you have to consider whether Joe is going to get many opportunities. We've also got some good young 'keepers behind Joe because our academy has done extremely well for goalkeepers.”

Peterborough director of football Barry Fry revealed on TV this week that he expected them to break the club transfer record of £350,000 - paid to Walsall for midfielder Martin O'Connor in 1996 - during the January window.

Morecambe boss McIlroy leaked news of the potential move when he said: “I spoke to the lad (Lewis) last night and he told me he was thinking about it - and you can't blame him.

“I knew Peterborough were interested in him and we did put a bid in for him. But we can't compete with £400,000. I am surprised with the move, though.”

Lewis, from Broome near Bungay, first appeared on the bench for City in 2003 as a 15-year-old. He had a spell on loan at Stockport last season.