NORWICH have agreed an £8m deal in principle with Everton for Steven Naismith after reviving their interest in the striker.
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| Norwich have agreed a fee with Everton for Steven Naismith |
Naismith saw a move to Carrow Road in August blocked by manager Roberto Martinez because the interest came too late in the transfer window.
But Everton will no longer stand in the way of the Scotland international, who has started just four league games but scored a hat-trick as a substitute against Chelsea back in September.
The development could now flush out interest elsewhere in Naismith, who has also been monitored by the likes of Sunderland, Swansea City, Aston Villa and Newcastle. Championship leaders Middlesbrough have also checked on him.
Naismith has not discussed personal terms as yet, but Norwich City manager Alex Neil will hope to land the striker as soon as the window opens in order to help their push for safety.
The forward appeared as a 65th minute substitute in Monday’s 4-3 defeat to Stoke, but earlier this month Martinez flagged up the prospect of Naismith leaving in January.
“I sat down with Steven Naismith in August and said, ‘You are too important to Everton to allow you to go at this stage,” said the Everton manager.
“I don’t know how Arouna Kone will be, how Gerard Deulofeu will be, how the others will be.’
“The offer of Norwich arrived very late and I couldn’t replace him. It was a very honest communication and I said in January we will reassess it.
“The way Steven Naismith behaves, and the way he works, means that when he says something you have to listen.
“If it is someone who is selfish and has never been bothered about helping the team then you can pay them back in the same way. It is quite straight forward.”
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