Ebou Adams is a man in demand after his release from Norwich City.

The combative midfielder failed to make the grade in a two-year stint at Carrow Road after being plucked from non-league Dartford but an eye-catching loan stint at Orient put him in the shop window.

The 22-year-old was a top summer target for the National League club, but director of football Martin Ling has confirmed Adams rejected the chance of a Brisbane Road return.

'I'm not going to stand here and tell lies and say it wasn't disappointing because it was,' Ling told the Guardian Series. 'Ebou did really well for us and the easy answer for us was for him to stay.

'My belief is that he's got league clubs who have made him the same sort of offer or better and he wants to play within the league. So, we have to accept that. Of course, we've got other options.

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'He did do really well for us but I have got other people that I know will do just as good a job. I thank Ebou for his time but I don't really worry about it too much because I have to move onto the next person on my shopping list.'

Adams had a brief loan stint at Shrewsbury last season before making 16 appearances for Orient, where he became a firm fans' favourite and lifted the Os' goal-of-the-season for a long range strike against Gateshead in the FA Trophy.