Canaries to swoop for Magpie

Norwich boss Chris Hughton will reportedly rival Southampton and Blackburn for the signature of Newcastle striker Leon Best.

The 25-year-old, who Hughton signed for the Magpies from Coventry in February 2010 for an undisclosed fee on a three and a half year contract, has struggled for regular first-team football at the Sports Direct Arena. And, as Best is approaching the final year of his contract on Tyneside, it is believed that boss Alan Pardew will allow him to leave this summer so they can secure a fee for his services. Blackburn boss Steve Kean has been linked with a swoop for Best as he looks to get Rovers back into the Premier League at the first attempt. However, Hughton is being linked with a possible swoop as he faces the possibility of losing Grant Holt this summer. Best has fallen behind the likes of Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba in the pecking order at Newcastle, but he has proven he can find the net in the Premier League with six goals in 10 starts during an injury-ravaged 2010-11 season, before scoring four goals last term. Hughton would no doubt fancy his chances of luring Best to Carrow Road as he has already signed the player, while he could offer Premier League football. But newly-promoted Southampton boss Nigel Adkins has also been linked with a bid to take Best back to St Mary's, where he started his professional career in 2004.