Norwich City competing with Premier League rivals for Ipswich prospect

Andre Dozzell in recent pre-season action for Ipswich against Paderborn Picture: ROSS HALLS Archant

Norwich City are understood to be one of the clubs chasing the signature of England Under-20 midfielder Andre Dozzell from arch rivals Ipswich Town.

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The 20-year-old is the son of former Tractor Boys favourite Jason Dozzell and was born and raised in Ipswich, coming through Town's academy system.

The youngster - who is out of contract next summer - has been tracked by Premier League clubs since bursting onto the scene in 2016, scoring on his debut as a 16-year-old at Sheffield Wednesday to emulate his father.

Brighton are understood to have shown interest earlier this summer but talks are believed to already have been held between Norwich and Ipswich, although no official bid has been made at this stage.

The Blues hold the option to extend Dozzell's current terms by a further year, while general manager of football operations Lee O'Neill recently said the club are working on new deals for those with expiring contracts.

Dozzell has impressed during pre-season for Paul Lambert's men, sitting in a deep-lying midfield role but he's struggled for game time since returning from a cruciate knee ligament injury, suffered on the opening day of the 2017/18 season.

He has made 33 Ipswich appearances so far, scoring twice, and has been capped throughout the England age groups. That includes three caps at U20 level, playing alongside Canaries defender Ben Godfrey earlier this year.

Dozzell has not featured in any of the six derby games during the past three seasons but was on the bench as Ipswich held City to a 1-1 draw at Portman Road in August 2016.

The last player to cross the Norfolk-Suffolk border directly between the two clubs was Andy Marshall in 2001, although many more players and coaches have played for both clubs.

The League One club are managed by former City boss Paul Lambert, who appointed Norwich U23s boss Matt Gill to his coaching staff following his arrival at Portman Road last October.

Canaries youth product Tom Adeyemi endured an injury hit two years with Town after signing in 2017 and City had former Tractor Boys striker Jordan Rhodes as part of their title-winning squad last season.

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