Norwich City are emerging as key players as the January transfer merry-go-round takes a big spin.

The Canaries have reportedly agreed a £9m fee with Crystal Palace for Robbie Brady with another £3m based on appearances.

With Brady potentially on his way to south London, Norwich's efforts to bring Sporting Lisbon defender Marvin Zeegelaar moved a step closer, with the Canaries agreeing a 3.5m euros deal for the 26-year-old, according to Lisbon-based newspaper A Bola.

The Dutch left back was in Norwich yesterday undergoing a medical ready to sign a deal worth 1m euros a season.

City boss Alex Neil has made no secret of his desire to bring in another left-sided player in the aftermath of Martin Olsson's £4m move to Swansea, with Ajax's 23-year-old left-back Mitchell Dijks another to be linked.

Norwich's need would be even greater were Brady to move on, although the Irishman's situation is complicated by Palace also agreeing a deal with Sunderland for Patrick Van Aanholt.

Brady looks to have moved ahead of Van Aanholt in Palace's thinking, but the tortuous transfer route from Norwich down to London then involves a separate trip up the A1, with Palace boss Sam Allardyce keen to get Andros Townsend through the exit door – with Newcastle apparently keen to re-sign the winger.

It seems Selhurst Park is not the only destination open to Brady.

Burnley had been favourites for his signature and the Clarets remain interested in the 25-year-old, who was on target in Norwich's 3-1 win over Wolves at the weekend.

Brady is boyhood pals with Clarets midfielder Jeff Hendrick, who has been singing the praises of life at Turf Moor. The pair were team-mates from the age of six at St Kevin's Boys in Dublin, although Burnley have reportedly agreed a £10m deal with ex-Norwich City winger Robert Snodgrass. Whether manager Sean Dyche's men have the financial clout to complete deals for both players is doubtful.

Brady has been in high demand this month, with Sunderland manager David Moyes an admirer – but the Norwich midfielder turned down a move to the Stadium of Light for fear of dropping back into the Championship by the summer.