CHRIS LAKEY Canaries boss Peter Grant has vowed not to give up his fight to bring David Marshall to Norwich this summer - despite the chase for the Scotland international taking another twist.

CHRIS LAKEY

Canaries boss Peter Grant has vowed not to give up his fight to bring David Marshall to Norwich this summer - despite the chase for the Scotland international taking another twist.

Grant has seen one bid for Marshall rejected by Celtic, but is expected to try again as he seeks to solve a goalkeeping problem which has troubled him since he took over at Carrow Road in October.

And while he has made no secret of his desire to bring in Marshall he admits the picture has become muddied by another cryptic message from Celtic's first-choice keeper Artur Boruc.

Former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has been linked with Boruc, although he looks closer to taking Jussi Jaaskelainen from Bolton, while a clutch of European teams are also interested in the 27-year-old.

And Boruc did nothing to dispel the rumours in an interview with a Polish newspaper when he refused to rule out a summer move.

“I can't complain about anything,” he said. “But if there is a chance to play in a better club, why not?

“All the time I'm doing everything to become a better goalkeeper. I'm trying to improve my skills. I can't stop as it would mean moving backwards.

“There are still many challenges in Scotland. The derby against Rangers drives the whole league. Only for those games is it worth staying at Celtic.”

Grant admits Boruc's situation is having a knock-on effect at Norwich.

“The Boruc situation is one that seems to be affecting it,” he said. “As everyone knows, there has been a lot of interest in Boruc and that will inevitably effect Marshall's situation.

“Unfortunately, it's one that could run for a few weeks as it is up to Celtic. It's frustrating, but we have got to live with that. We have certainly not given up hope of getting him.

“The boy has come out and said he wants to come and play for Norwich and that has certainly been positive from our point of view. He is very keen to come to the club.

“I will sense when I think a deal can't be done. I still think there's hope for us because he has made it quite clear he wants to come and play for us. It is one that could run and run, but we will have to wait and see what happens.”

Should Boruc depart, Marshall would still face stiff competition from Mark Brown - signed from Inverness CT when Marshall was on loan at Norwich earlier this year - as well as the prospect of Hearts keeper Craig Gordon moving to Parkhead.

Grant will monitor every move and would be ready to improve on his first offer, believed to have been around £500,000, and end an increasingly frustrating chase.

“The biggest thing is that Celtic are in a position of strength,” he said. “We are disappointed not to be moving that situation forward, but I will not give up on that. I'd like to bring David to Carrow Road and I think he would go on to be an excellent goalkeeper for Norwich City.”

Marshall - whose loan spell was cut short by injury - is still on City's payroll, his loan spell officially expiring on July 31, but is one of a number of targets testing Grant's patience.

“That's been the biggest problem,” he said. “I've spoken to managers, agents, general managers - the biggest problem is once I've put in an offer there will be someone else involved.

“You get excited about something and all of a sudden it's all over the newspapers. They are trying to create more interest. People know we are looking to get players in and we have made a lot of enquiries and are waiting to hear.”