TOMORROW could be a tipping point in Town’s bid to bring in James Vaughan on a permanent deal.
The striker, who top-scored with 14 goals on loan last season, still has a year on his contract at Norwich, who return for pre-season training in 24 hours’ time.
But the signs are that the Premier League club, who this week officially unveiled Dutch frontman Ricky van Wolfswinkel as their £8.5m club-record signing, are willing to let him go.
Town, who have handed midfielder Jordan Sinnott a contract extension through to 2015 (the club have an option for a further 12 months), have distanced themselves from Jacob Butterfield, thought to be surplus to requirements at Norwich, and Nathan Doyle of Bradford, who both played under Mark Robins at Barnsley.
However the John Smith’s Stadium club, also being linked with Sunderland’s Connor Wickham, have made no secret of their desire to land 24-year-old Vaughan, popular with fellow players and fans alike.
Robins has already recruited old boy Jon Stead from Bristol City and Northern Ireland man Martin Paterson from Burnley to provide frontline options alongside teenage prospect Daniel Carr.
And there’s little doubt he’d like to have Vaughan on the plane to Spain on Monday, when the squad head out for a pre-season training camp.
Norwich, who are closing in on Birmingham winger Nathan Redmond, go to Austria the same day, and it’s thought they would also like to have Vaughan’s future sorted out quickly.
That must be balanced against their desire to get the highest possible fee for a player who cost them £2.5m from Everton two years ago but has played only six times.
While Town must work to the new Financial Fair Play rules, they have so far made only a minimal outlay on Wolves winger Adam Hammill, with both Stead and Paterson free transfers.
Former England Under 21 man Vaughan’s form last time around alerted other clubs, and both Derby and Blackburn have been linked.
But Town are optimistic Vaughan’s inside knowledge of the club and manager Robins, himself a former Norwich striker, will pay dividends.
Town have missed out on reported target Jamie Paterson. The winger has left Walsall to join Nottingham Forest, Championship opening-day hosts for Robins’ side on August 3.
