You can just imagine Robbie Brady's reaction to the reports Norwich City had accepted a £5m bid from Swansea City for Martin Olsson.

Just when it looked like Brady might be able to rejoin the Premier League ranks with Leicester City and Crystal Palace circling, his left-sided buddy beats him to it.

If the Olsson move goes through then it would leave City without a recognised left back in Alex Neil's squad. The only sensible conclusion you can draw from that is that Norwich won't be selling Brady any time soon – unless they can bring in another left-sided defender.

City may think they can get away with putting Steven Whittaker down the left flank at Rotherham with Brady suspended but any more than that and you would have to seriously question the ambition of a club, which, according to the AGM rhetoric, is hell-bent on getting back into the top-flight.

The Olsson news does also call into question the wisdom of sanctioning Harry Toffolo extending his loan deal at Scunthorpe. With only six months left on his contract – although City are thought to have a one-year option – he could be pursuing a deal elsewhere soon.

City have made it abundantly clear that they must sell before they buy this month.

The Olsson fee should at least give Neil a little wiggle room in the market but the City chief really will have to pull a rabbit out the hat if the Swede's departure doesn't weaken an already faltering squad.

Whilst Olsson's agent, Hasan Cetinkaya, has been active to say the least, the 28-year-old has never shirked a challenge in the yellow and green and hasn't looked to be playing out his time at Carrow Road before the Premier League comes calling again. The majority of supporters wouldn't say the same about Brady. Olsson's positional sense may have been exposed on occasion in the Premier League but the Championship has proved well within the former Blackburn man's capabilities whilst his winner against Newcastle last season should have been one of the great Carrow Road moments. The subsequent relegation reduced it to a mere footnote. Olsson would leave some sizeable shoes to fill and names will start filtering through with regard to replacements.

I'll start it off by suggesting Cameron Borthwick-Jackson at Manchester United or Brad Smith at Bournemouth. If City are feeling ultra ambitious then why not put in a cheeky offer for Kieron Gibbs on a six-month loan.

The transfer window has finally started for City fans, but perhaps not for Brady.