The ball is in Norwich City’s court over their pursuit of Sporting Gijón midfielder Jonathan Varane. 

City are pushing to sign the Frenchman before Thursday’s deadline and are in contact with his representatives as they look to thrash out a move to Carrow Road. 

Fresh reports in Spain on Tuesday morning claim that Norwich are preparing a second offer for the 22-year-old in the hope of finalising a deal. 

It’s understood that Norwich are unwilling to meet Varane’s reported €10m release figure and La Nueva Espana say that City’s initial bid of €2million hasn’t been deemed enough to convince Sporting into a sale. 

Gijon remain steadfast in their desire to keep Varane, but Norwich appear to be unmoved in their hopes of adding him to their midfield mix this month. 

Varane, who is thought to be keen on a move to Norfolk to improve his financial standing and the promise of regular minutes, is yet to play a minute in the Segunda Division this calendar year and was an unused substitute in their 2-1 defeat to Racing Ferrol on Sunday. 

Sporting director Ben Knapper has led the pursuit of Varane this month having identified a need for a more defensively minded midfielder in City’s squad. 

Varane is viewed as an addition for the mid to long term - even if he would immediately become an option for David Wagner should a deal be thrashed out. 

Gijon boss Miguel Ángel Ramírez played a straight bat at reports of a Norwich bid on Sunday night. 

“The club has not transmitted anything to me. There is nothing new with him or with any other player. I work with the ones I have," he said, quoted by local media outlet La Voz de Asturias.

Norwich are also in the market for another striker with Adam Idah the subject of a loan to buy offer from Serie A side Hellas Verona. 

The Canaries will only sanction Idah’s departure if they can source a replacement in the final days of the January transfer window and face a race against time to step up that search.