Chris Lakey Bryan Gunn says Norwich City still have enough cache to attract quality players - and that Simon Whaley is proof of the club's standing in the game. The Canaries boss is set to make Whaley his fifth signing of the summer having confirmed yesterday that a fee has been agreed with Preston for the 24-year-old winger.

Chris Lakey

Bryan Gunn says Norwich City still have enough cache to attract quality players - and that Simon Whaley is proof of the club's standing in the game.

The Canaries boss is set to make Whaley his fifth signing of the summer having confirmed yesterday that a fee has been agreed with Preston for the 24-year-old winger.

Whaley has asked for time to consider the City offer, but if negotiations go to plan he could be in a Norwich City shirt before the squad return from their three-game Scotland tour at the weekend.

“We have been speaking to Preston about securing his signature and they have given us permission to speak to him so we are delighted about that,” said Gunn at the club's base in St Andrews yesterday. Obviously we need to make sure that Simon wants to come to Norwich City, first and foremost.

“It is a great platform for any player to play on and I think he wants to be sure about the move as well. Certainly he is a player I have admired over the past few years and somebody that if we do secure his services would add something extra to the squad.”

Gunn has already brought in midfielders Matt Gill and Owain Tudur Jones from Exeter and Swansea respectively, defender Michael Nelson from Hartlepool and goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos, who was with Australian side Melbourne Victory.

A winger is high on his list of priorities, but if the pursuit of Whaley is successful then Gunn is left with just one major target - a big striker.

“It just shows you the attractiveness of coming to Norwich City even in League One,” Gunn said. “The crowds are part of the attraction of coming, playing in front of a big crowd at Carrow Road. Obviously players know they will have to go to away venues and smaller crowds, but certainly Norwich City, the stature the club is held in the country is recognised and that is the way we have been attracting the players throughout the summer. Hopefully if we get good positive feedback from Simon we will see him in a Norwich City jersey in the not too distant future.”

Gunn has gone ahead with the undisclosed bid despite not knowing the outcome of Coventry's interest in Sammy Clingan, or the next move for Darel Russell who, he confirmed, was not part of the Whaley offer.

“Simon has asked for some time to think about the offer and hopefully the positive talks that have gone on so far will come to fruition,” added Gunn

As for Clingan and Russell, the interest shown in then last week remains - but as yet there is no definitive move.

“There is still interest in both players,” confirmed Gunn. “Those discussions are still on-going and the interest is still on-going, but there is nothing more to report on that.”

Gunn has been linked with a number of strikers, but that list is shortening by the day: Derby's Liam Dickinson is on his way to Brighton for a fee believed to be around �100,000, while Colchester United say their striker, Clive Platt is going nowhere.

Assistant manager Ian Culverhouse insists Platt is not leaving due to his importance to the team.

“Clive isn't going anywhere,” said Us assistant manager and former Canary Ian Culverhouse. “He's an integral part of our plans for the new season.”