James Norwood’s proposed move to Town moved a giant step closer today when the striker’s car was spotted at Portman Road and the club confirmed he is scheduled to undergo a medical in the next 24 hours.
Provided all goes well it seems the 28-year-old striker, who was the country’s top scorer last season with 32 goals for Tranmere as they won promotion to League One, will become Paul Lambert’s third summer signing after the capture of goalkeepers Tomas Holy and Adam Przybek.
It has been on the cards for several weeks that Norwood was Portman Road-bound but he spent time in Magaluf with his Tranmere team-mates and then with his family before travelling south today to complete the formalities, provided the medical examination goes without any hitches.
Some supporters had grown uneasy by the lack of activity regarding Norwood but today’s major development should see him Norwood become a Town player and then return for pre-season training with his new colleagues on June 24.
Norwood, who helped Tranmere win the play-offs, bagged 23 goals as they won promotion to League Two by the same route in the previous campaign and returned to the EFL after a three-year stint in the Vanarama National League.
Eastbourne-born Norwood, who is 5ft 9in tall, was a youth player with Brighton, Crystal Palace and hometown club Eastbourne Town before breaking into EFL football with Exeter, with whom he made three starts and one sub appearance.
During two years with the Grecians, he also spent time on loan in non-league at Sutton United, Forest Green Rovers and Eastbourne Borough, before joining the Green Devils on a permanent basis in 2011.
Following his release by Forest Green, the seven-times-capped, four-goal England C international joined Tranmere in the summer of 2015, going on to net 92 times in 180 games for the Wirral-based club.
Who could this be?! #itfc #AnnounceNorwood pic.twitter.com/3MnVA4nbHp
— Owen Fayers (@Owen_Fayers) June 10, 2019