Norwich City midfielder Anthony Pilkington has again been linked with Premier League rivals Swansea City, with the Swans reportedly prepared to pay £3m for the fit-again Republic of Ireland international.

The 25-year-old had been linked with the Welsh club earlier in the window although Swans' chairman Huw Jenkins knocked back reports of firm interest in the former Huddersfield player.

Skysports, however, claimed on Friday afternoon the Swans have made a £3m bid for the City wide player, who made his return to the Canaries' line up in the recent 1-0 win over Hull City after recovering from a hamstring injury. Canaries' boss Chris Hughton dismissed recent speculation linking Pilkington with a potential switch to south Wales and in the wake of Wes Hoolahan's rejected transfer request earlier this week the club issued a statement reiterating they had no intention of selling any of their senior players.

Pilkington is one of City's established stars yet to pledge his future to the club after a number of his team mates agreed contract extensions over recent months, but Hughton has previously insisted he is a key part of his plans.

'With Anthony it's been a difficult period for him this season where he's missed games and periods through injuries, but he is still a player we very much value and has served us very well,' he said. 'When he's on the pitch and in good form, up to speed with the injuries, he's a very good player. So that's one situation we're very much conscious of. We continually assess all the players that here in terms of their contracts and we'll make what we feel are the right decisions.'

Earlier this month the Daily Mirror included Pilkington on a potential wish list for Swans' chief Michael Laudrup should he fail in moves for Blackpool's Thomas Ince and Manchester United's Wilfried Zaha. Pilkington had also been linked with former boss Paul Lambert's Aston Villa.