Striker Karl Hawley -tracked by Norwich City last season - says he is ready to sign a new deal at Carlisle, although he didn't rule out a move up the Football League ladder.

Striker Karl Hawley -tracked by Norwich City last season - says he is ready to sign a new deal at Carlisle, although he didn't rule out a move up the Football League ladder.

The 24-year-old hammered home 26 goals in Carlisle's League Two title-winning season and has been offered an extension to his contract, which has another year to run.

“I'm contracted for another year here and I have just spoken to the gaffer (Paul Simpson) and he wants me to extend it,” said Hawley. “He'll be speaking to my agent next week and I can't see a reason why I won't sign it. Everything's good at the moment and I'm happy here.”

However, Hawley did leave the door open when he admitted he would consider a move to a bigger club.

“If a big club comes in for me I'd have to think about that because ambitious,” he said.

“And if the gaffer comes to me and says, 'we're selling you', then that will be it. But speculation is just that - speculation. I owe a lot to the gaffer and Dennis (Booth, assistant manager). I was going nowhere at Walsall and they got me out of that.

“We are in League One next season and that's all I'm thinking about. I believe I can score goals at that level and help the club to do well.

“I'm in a good position here. I've got another year on my contract and we're going to extend it, so I can't see a problem with anything.”

Norwich boss Nigel Worthington was linked with a move for Hawley before the closure of the transfer loan window in March and although he admitted he'd had the player watched, he said he was just one of many players the club kept tabs on.

Should Worthington express an interest he may have competition - Hawley has also been linked with Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland and Wolves and has also been monitored by Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

Michael Chopra is said to be a player Worthington admires and he looks set to leave Newcastle this summer.

“It's 50-50 whether I'll be here next season and it's going to be a hard decision to make,” he told the Newcastle United web site. “My heart will tell me to stay at Newcastle, because this is where my heart is, and I'm a Geordie. But it may be best for football reasons that I leave the club.

Worthington has added Robert Earnshaw to his squad since his last reported interest in Chopra, and whether he sees the two as a matching pair is debatable.