Rumour Mill: Norwich City’s record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel offered Sporting Lisbon escape route

Norwich City's record signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel could be set for a loan return to former club Sporting Lisbon. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd ©Focus Images Limited www.focus-images.co.uk +447814 482222

Norwich City’s record-signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel could return to Sporting Lisbon on loan ahead of the new season.

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The Dutch international is scheduled to link up with his parent club next week when the majority of Alex Neil’s squad return from St George’s Park, after French Ligue One club St Etienne opted not to take up an option to buy the striker following a season-long loan spell.

The 26-year-old moved to England from Sporting Lisbon for an initial reported fee of £8.5m in 2013, but scored only one goal in 27 appearances in a campaign which ended in the club’s relegation from the top flight.

Now respected Portuguese newspaper, A Bola, claims van Wolfswinkel could be set for another extended stint away from Norwich, with Sporting a possible destination after a prolific spell in Portuguese football, where he scored 28 goals in 56 league appearances.

The paper reports initial contact has been made with van Wolfswinkel’s representative, Louis Laros, to explore the possibility of a potential reunion based on a season loan move, with an option to buy. The Dutch international still has two years left on his existing Carrow Road deal.

Neil has been linked with the likes of Dynamo Kiev frontman Dieumerci Mbokani, Blackburn’s Rudy Gestede and Crystal Palace’s Glenn Murray in recent days as he attempts to bolster his frontline for the Premier League kick-off.