David Cuffley The Canaries today flatly rejected reports of a transfer freeze at Carrow Road - but midfielder Alan Gow's proposed move from Rangers begins to look more and more unlikely.

David Cuffley

The Canaries today flatly rejected reports of a transfer freeze at Carrow Road - but midfielder Alan Gow's proposed move from Rangers begins to look more and more unlikely.

It is nearly two weeks since 25-year-old Gow arrived in Norwich for talks with manager Glenn Roeder, with a £250,000 fee reported to have been agreed between the two clubs.

But there is no indication the move is any nearer completion. Roeder said at the end of last week he was “no nearer” signing the player than before they held talks, while Gow's agent, Phil McTaggart, confirmed last night there had been no further contact from City.

Reports in Scotland claimed the deal was held up because City had put a freeze on transfer dealings in the wake of billionaire Peter Cullum's talk of a possible takeover of the club.

However, City chief executive Neil Doncaster said that was not the case.

He said: “We don't comment on transfer speculation but you can rest assured there is no transfer freeze at Carrow Road.”

With defender Ryan Bertrand's half-season loan from Chelsea tied up on Friday, making him the third summer signing, it seems the Canaries are very much open for business. With Roeder and the first team squad away in Devon this week, they may simply have cooled on the idea of signing Gow.

Meanwhile, Roeder could be given a summer bonus from former club Newcastle as Kevin Keegan ponders who to send out on loan next season - and to where.

The City boss has been heavily linked with a number of raids on St James' Park since taking over last October and reports in the north-east claim Keegan is to make full use of the loan system to help give valuable experience to his younger squad members. That will alert Roeder, who has been linked with striker Andy Carroll and defender David Edgar.

Carroll - who currently has an ankle injury that forced him out of England's European Under-19 Championship campaign - spent time on loan at Preston last season but could be farmed out again. He has reiterated his ambition to make this season the one where he breaks through into Newcastle's first team, but to do that he has to muscle his way past Obafemi Martins, Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith.

Roeder was linked with a £1m swoop for Carroll, 19, last month - having been priced out of any move for Shola Ameobi.

Newcastle - who may also want a temporary home for 18-year-old defenders Tamas Kadar and Ben Tozer - could also allow Edgar, 20, to go out on loan. Edgar is another who was linked with a loan move to Carrow Road, soon after the unfortunate Matthew Bates was forced to return to Middlesbrough because of a serious knee problem back in February.

The Canadian has interested a number of Championship clubs but, like Carroll, is well known to Roeder, and his Geordie coaching team, following his spell as manager at St James Park.

Roeder plans to make full use of the loan system again next season and, after securing Bertrand's services to January 1, could turn his attentions to Arsenal midfielder Kieran Gibbs, who played seven times for City during a loan spell last season.

“Kieran Gibbs is a player for whom last season ended too soon, he was getting better by the week,” said Roeder. “I would like to think after Arsenal's pre-season Arsene Wenger might like to let him come back here, we'll have to wait and see.”

Bertrand and Gibbs will be on the flight to the Czech Republic this week for the European Under-19 Championships and Bertrand will miss City's pre-season tour to Sweden, although he may be able to take part in the first home friendly of the summer, against Tottenham on July 28, depending on how the national team fare.

England's first match is on Monday against the hosts, with the final scheduled for July 26.