Martin Taylor remains a target for Norwich boss Glenn Roeder - even though the Birmingham defender may face Premiership leaders Arsenal this afternoon.

Martin Taylor remains a target for Norwich boss Glenn Roeder - even though the Birmingham defender may face Premiership leaders Arsenal this afternoon.

Taylor has been included in Alex McLeish's weakened squad for the trip to north London, even though the new blues boss has told him he is free to leave the club.

Roeder has baulked at the £1m asking price and said he will stick with his offer, thought to be around £750,000.

But, with Valentin Iliev's possible move having broken down because of work permit problems, Taylor is still on Roeder's radar.

“I don't think those attentions have ever gone away, he has always been in the background,” said Roeder yesterday.

“As I understand it he is in the squad to play Arsenal tomorrow because of injury or suspension, but ultimately we know they want to sell him and we would, at the right price, still be interested.”

Roeder, who allowed goalkeeper Joe Lewis to leave for Peterborough this week, denied reports that he wanted Newcastle number two Steve Harper to join a “healthy” goalkeeping squad at Carrow Road.

One northern newspaper said Roeder had asked for Harper on Wednesday - shortly before boss Sam Allardyce was sacked - but the former Newcastle manager said it was wide of the mark.

“It is the time of the year for speculation,” he said. “There is a lot going on at Newcastle at the moment but where the Newcastle media have come out with that one I don't know.”

Roeder has Matthew Gilks back from injury and close to replacing young Steven Arnold on the subs' bench as back-up to David Marshall.

“We have a very young goalkeeper, Scotland's number three who can only get better and better,” Roeder added. “Numbers wise, we have got Gilks back again and fit, Arnold - although we have not seen him in a game, in training he looks a very decent young goalkeeper. Of course we have two in the England system at 17 and 16 level (Declan Rudd and Jed Steer) so that department looks pretty locked up.”

Roeder is still looking for a goalkeeping coach after the departure of James Hollman, and expects developments next week.