Colchester United have slapped a £750,000 price tag on want-away striker Jamie Cureton with the player desperate for a move to a “bigger” club. The former Canary had a transfer request rejected by the U's last week and the club have already reportedly rejected a £250,000 bid from Hull City.

Colchester United have slapped a £750,000 price tag on want-away striker Jamie Cureton with the player desperate for a move to a “bigger” club.

The former Canary had a transfer request rejected by the U's last week and the club have already reportedly rejected a £250,000 bid from Hull City. A second unnamed club are also rumoured to have made an offer, but this has also been knocked back.

However, Colchester would be willing to do business for the player if someone was to offer three times that and, with Norwich City manager Peter Grant in the market for a striker, the 31-year-old appears to fit the bill perfectly.

Cureton, who was the second best player in the Championship last season according to the Coca-Cola Championship Actim Index, feels he needs to leave Layer Road as the Essex club cannot match his ambition.

He said: “I will be 33-years-old when my current contract runs out next summer so I would like to be given the opportunity now to talk to the bigger teams who are interested in me. I got to the situation earlier this summer where I sat down and took a good look at what was left of my career for the future.

“I'm not selfish and I'm not silly. I know Colchester's situation and I know they can't match what the bigger teams are offering players. But I'm not 21-years-old anymore and I know there's interest in me out there.”

Norwich boss Grant has not hidden his wish to add a striker to his squad and he was yesterday linked with a move for Southend hit-man Freddy Eastwood.

Grant has been impressed with the 23-year-old's scoring exploits at Roots Hall but fears being priced out of the race.

“I'd heard a lot about Freddy because he was at West Ham before I was there, so he was schooled well and he is one that's impressed me. He likes scoring goals, and he's proved it in big games.

“We are always looking at quality players and we know he has quality. But there is a value certain clubs will put on a player and there is a premium for goalscorers. We are looking to get a few players in and we can't put all our eggs in one basket. We can't afford to do that.”

Grant has admitted his side have too often relied on Robert Earnshaw for goals and is desperate to ease the scoring burden on the Welsh international.

Scunthorpe's Billy Sharp is another player linked with City but Grant said he is keeping his eye on several targets.

“Too often we have relied on certain players to score our goals and that's something we are looking to improve on,” he said. “There are a few strikers we are interested in. Sharp is not the only one we are looking at.”