Cameron Jerome looks set to leave Norwich City with Championship trio Birmingham, Sunderland and Derby County linked; but what of Aston Villa?
Cameron Jerome’s goals might have dried up at Norwich City this season but his proven Championship track-record means there is no shortage of interest in the January transfer window.
The Sun claims that Norwich could sell the striker for £1.5 million this month in order to ease their wage bill, with Championship strugglers Sunderland and Birmingham City both keen, along with Gary Rowett’s promotion chasing Derby County.
You can see why Birmingham in particular would be interested. Jerome knows the club well, having fired them to two promotions in his first spell at St Andrews, and Steve Cotterill’s side are crying out for a goal-scorer having netted just 15 in the league all season – by far the lowest in the division.
Sunderland, too, are struggling at the wrong end of the table and may be in need of a striker with doubts surrounding the future of exit-linked James Vaughan and Lewis Grabban, whose parent-club Bournemouth can recall him from his loan spell at the Stadium of Light this month.
But Birmingham’s Midland rivals Aston Villa should surely give Jerome some consideration too. After all, manager Steve Bruce has made no secret of his desire to add a proven Championship striker to his squad and though Villa are restricted by Financial Fair Play, a £1.5 million price-tag could still put Jerome within their reach.
Villa’s preference is to land a goal-scorer on loan, possibly Leo Ulloa, Danny Ings or Nahki Wells according to the Birmingham Mail, but Jerome’s record makes him a viable option.
It was just last season that he netted 16 times in the second tier, after all, and he also scored on 18 occasions for Norwich during their 2014/15 promotion winning season, including in the play-off final against Middlesbrough.
Jerome is a player who has been there and done it before. And he should be on Villa’s radar as local rivals Birmingham attempt to pull off a deal.
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