Chris Lakey Paul Lambert has hit a stumbling block in his attempt to prise transfer target Danny Seaborne away from Exeter City. The Canaries boss claims the bid to sign the 22-year-old is 'at a standstill'.

Chris Lakey

Paul Lambert has hit a stumbling block in his attempt to prise transfer target Danny Seaborne away from Exeter City.

The Canaries boss claims the bid to sign the 22-year-old is “at a standstill”.

But Exeter says the interest is very much alive - but is stalling because City are falling short of their valuation.

“They are continuing their interest, but it's not even close to something that we would entertain,” said Exeter manager Paul Tidsdale.

“I am sure they will continue their interest, it hasn't finished.

“But we are in the same place that we were before. I don't want to be too disparaging, but it is not even worth considering.

“Every player at our club is available if the club offers the right money.

“But if they don't then they are not available, it's as simple as that. That goes for every player.”

Lambert says City can't afford to up their bid but admits he is reluctant to throw in players as bait.

“They have turned us down and that's the way it is,” he said. “The situation is at a standstill at the minute, we can't go back with the money Exeter want, we just can't afford that.

“I am reluctant to let people go at the minute - it's 46 games and we are only in October.”

There are options, but not ones Lambert is willing to consider - or revisit.

“You get names thrown at you all the time, but it's loans,” he said. “It's loan after loan after loan. There is no point in taking them on if they are going to go back in January or it doesn't work.

“You have got to have your team before people can judge you, you have to have your own team in. They won't really care about Norwich City and that's the problem the club's had in the past.”

When all his players are fit, Lambert will be top heavy in the midfield department - while other areas are sparsely served. Matt Gill made his first playing appearance under Lambert when he played for the reserves on Wednesday, while Owain Tudur Jones is still out of the picture, along with defenders Michael Spillane and Michael Nelson.

The day they all return to fitness strengthens his options - but not everywhere.

“Tudor Jones is centre midfield, Matty's a centre midfielder, Darel (Russell) is a centre midfielder, Korey (Smith) is a centre midfielder, Stephen Hughes is a centre midfielder,” he said. “But for instance in the right area you have where Michael (Spillane) and Jon (Otsemobor) are out there is only two - whereas central midfielders we have at least half a dozen in there.”

Lambert's problem is whether to wheel and deal with the surplus.

“You are never quite sure the way it is going to transpire,” he said. “We have had to more or less use everybody through injury or suspension, but within certain areas of the football pitch.”

As far as Monday's trip to Leeds is concerned, Otsemobor looks likely to come back into contention after a hamstring injury picked up in the league game at Gillingham, which has forced him to miss the last four league and cup games.

“We'll see how he is later on in the week so hopefully, with a bit of luck he'll be okay,” said Lambert.

Spillane (hamstring) is “nowhere near”, while Nelson (ankle) is “doing okay but he's not ready”.

There is one new injury concern, although Lambert was giving out no clues as to his identity.

“There's one in there at the minute that is giving us a little bit of cause for concern, so we'll see,” he said.