Samba linked with City switch

Norwich City are rumoured to have given former England Youth international Cherno Samba a trial at the club.

Plymouth Argyle boss Ian Holloway has placed the 21-year-old on the transfer list at Home Park and Peter Grant has reportedly made a move for the player, who was courted by Manchester United and Liverpool as a youngster.

The Pilgrims are willing to let the player leave for nothing after Holloway boosted his attacking options over the summer leaving Samba well down the pecking order.

Holloway said: “He's got another year with us but I can't see him progressing.

“I have got some young lads who he is in the way of. I need to make room for them. If he can't progress I would like him to go somewhere else.”

Meanwhile, Grant is also looking at boosting his defensive options in the form of Manchester United youngster Ryan Shawcross.

Norwich have also been linked with bringing Calum Davenport back to Carrow Road but Shawcross has emerged as a genuine option to strengthen what was a leaky defence last season.

The 19-year-old has already been loaned out to United's feeder club in Belgium, Royal Antwerp, and the Premiership champions may be willing to allow him to further his footballing education away from Old Trafford again.

City liaison Bryan Gunn had hoped his close relationship with United's legendary manager - his former boss at Aberdeen - would one day come in useful, and it could be put to the test here.

Shawcross played for United in their pre-season friendly at Peterborough at the weekend and while he has just two subs appearances for the first team on his CV - both in the Carling Cup last autumn - he has worked his way up through the ranks to become a reserves team regular.

While the teenager is clearly less experienced than Davenport, money and ambition may be major issues: Davenport is a £3m who, although facing stiff competition at Upton Park this summer, is likely to harbour hopes of Premiership football this season.