Tranmere’s James Norwood has certainly made headlines this season as he has taken his outstanding form in to the EFL, and this week the widely anticipated speculation about his future began with League One-bound Ipswich reportedly interested.
Norwood is out of contract in the summer and will no doubt have a whole host of suitors. After all, clubs will be tempted to take a chance on a free-scoring, hard-working striker who is coming in to his peak years. Even if he was under contract, this sort of form will always attract interest from elsewhere.
However, while Ipswich are a big club, Nors will almost certainly be waiting until the summer to decide his future, certainly that’s how we understand it. And right he should. Ipswich and Tranmere could be in the same division next season for a start…
The report in the East Anglian Daily Times which got the gossip underway was quite laughable in parts. It’s probably either totally made up or perhaps on the back of some genuine information, however, just about every EFL club will consider the name of goal scorers like Norwood in the coming months.
The final paragraph was the clincher and perhaps is also what we should measure the article off, or at least the knowledge of the writer. It likens him to being in a similar mould to Grant Holt, while also claiming he is a “physical striker that relies on good movement and his finishing ability, finding the net in the lower leagues with both feet, as well as his head, on a regular basis.”
A striker that relies on his finishing ability and scores goals with his feet and head. Wow. Amazing insight. Don’t forget to add that he has two legs, two arms and a head as well.
The fact is, as good as Grant Holt was, the only similarity is in terms of the career development perhaps and working their way up through leagues. Holt was a completely different type of centre forward.
Speculation to increase
One thing that is for sure, and that is that we should prepare ourselves for a barrage of speculation between now and the summer.
Just about every regional newspaper and rubbish football transfers website will link Norwood to clubs, partly as clickbait, and partly because he will be one of the hottest free agents below the Championship this summer, if he hasn’t signed a new deal at Prenton Park before then.
Fingers crossed that his love for Tranmere and possibly even a potential promotion is enough to keep Nors at Prenton Park.
