Lewis to make decision on offer
CHRIS LAKEY Joe Lewis' future as a Norwich City player is expected to be decided over the weekend as the young keeper mulls over a record-breaking move to League Two Peterborough United.
CHRIS LAKEY
Joe Lewis' future as a Norwich City player is expected to be decided over the weekend as the young keeper mulls over a record-breaking move to League Two Peterborough United.
Canaries manager Glenn Roeder described the report of Lewis' imminent departure as "speculation", but Posh manager Darren Ferguson confirmed that he is prepared to pay a club record £400,000 bid for the 20-year-old.
"There is nothing on that at all, that is just speculation, a rumour that was circulating in the Peterborough media," said Roeder. "I am not saying I am not going to sell anybody - as Tommy Docherty told me a long time ago everybody has got a price."
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That price is one Norwich may find hard to turn down for a player who has yet to make a first team appearance after coming through the ranks at Carrow Road.
Lewis, who would be challenging Matthew Gilks for the back-up keeper role at Norwich, held talks with Posh on Thursday, just a week after returning from a loan spell at League Two Morecambe which included a 3-2 win over Posh last weekend.
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Ferguson has defended the size of the fee, viewing it as an investment.
"To get the calibre of player I'm after you sometimes need to spend big money," he said. "It's a big fee, but I believe it's a fair one because we would be getting one of the best young goalkeepers in the country.
"That would make it an investment for the future, but it also sends a message out to our fans and to other clubs how serious we all are in taking this club forward.
"I just hope that Joe will sign. He didn't know anything about the move until late on Wednesday night so it's been a bit of a whirlwind for him. He has asked for the weekend to talk things over with his family which is fair enough.
"Joe has a huge presence and I like that in a goalkeeper. If we have a slight Achilles heel in our side it's the lack of height at the back and Joe's presence would ensure that.
"He's also agile, has good hands and he kicks well. He has the whole package and he would be a quality capture.
"I have spoken to Mark Tyler about the situation and he understands what we are trying to do. If I get Joe I would have two excellent goalkeepers at the club and that would be a great position."
Posh's current record signing is midfielder Martin O'Connor who cost £350,000 from Walsall in 1996.
