Right Now City and the supporters are in need of a big lift, the dark clouds are starting to build over Carrow Road after another low point.  That lift was hoped to be Ricky Van Wolfwinkel pulling on a yellow shirt, but sadly that looks very remote.  City were reported to have bid of £10 million,  which is not enough to securehis signature  as Sporting Lisbon have slapped a £12 million price tag on his head,

City are either unable or unwilling to pay that amount.

With that news circulating The Mirror says we will now reignite our interest in Danny Graham, if that is correct City will have to move quickly and beat others to getting Graham

 The player is supposed to favour a return North, making Sunderland the favourite, but with no news of Sunderland progressing any further with their opening bid,  it is thought they not be so interested.

  Swansea have stated that Graham will be going nowhere until a replacement is signed,  into the frame step Stoke.  Swansea had an earlier bid rejected by Stoke for Kenwyne Jones, but now reports suggest Stoke are mulling over the idea of a straight player swap; Jones for Graham.

The Mail steps up to suggest that we are readying to return to Celtic's Gary Hooper with a renewed bid of £7;  while the Mirror reports we are prepared to smash our transfer record to secure Hooper with a bid of £8 million which is thought to be Celtic's asking price.

Also in the Mirror, we find  City going head to head with Fulham for QPR's £3 million rated striker Jamie Mackie, while it is thought that Mackie would prefer to stay in London to avoid the upheavel of a move, Hughton is keen to bring him to Norfolk.

One rumour not in the media but would be quite a coup was found on a rumour site,  that City could be looking at Celta Vigo's highly rated  striker iago aspas,  Tipped to make an impact similar to that of Michu, although  a different player than Michu, but  equally or even more talented and just as explosive in the final third.

Sources close to the club say that Aspas has a €10 million release clause in his contract, but with Chelsea already having a bid of  € 8.5 million turned down; plus Zenit and Dynamo Kiev said  to have contacted his agent, this looks to way out  of City's reach. Clearly very wishful thinking on the part of that poster.

So where is Hughton going to turn to get his striker, whoever  they turn to they will need to move quickly as time is running down fast and it is starting  look very muddled, if these reports contain any truth.