We’re in January and transfer silly season has begun. We’ve been prepared for the James Norwood rumours to start for some time, and this morning it looks as though they’re underway.
The Southend Echo has run an article about Southend being interested in signing a striker. Manager Chris Powell is desperately looking for a new forward and was at Prenton Park on Friday night for the match against Tottenham to “watch a possible transfer target”.
2 + 2 = 4?
A so-called football transfers Twitter account has followed that up this morning by saying Southend are in “advanced discussions” to sign Norwood, although the authenticity of anything posted on the account is questionable.
However, this is exactly the kind of speculation that may have an element of truth about it. His goal scoring exploits will have attracted the attention of many clubs, and while a move to Southend may not seem particularly attractive to us, they are 10thin League One.
Despite having an average attendance that is around the same as Tranmere’s and a ground that has most definitely seen better days, the lure of League One football and a move back down south may be tempting. It’s still more than two hours from Norwood’s place of birth in Eastbourne, but that’s significantly closer than Merseyside is.
That said, Norwood is believed to be happy and settled up here and he is idolised by the Tranmere fans. Rovers are also once again a club on the up, and there is a chance we could yet be playing League One football next season ourselves. Stick or twist?
Rovers Chairman Mark Palios said recently that he would not sell Norwood in January, preferring instead to keep him for the remainder of the season to see if Rovers can mount a promotion challenge, but then risk losing him on a free transfer in the summer.
You’d also have to question the value of selling him now. Due to being out of contract in the summer, the club’s ability to command the kind of fee you’d expect for a goal scoring centre forward in his prime is severely limited.
Palios should definitely stick to his guns and reject all bids unless stupid money is offered.
