Neil Adams: "No transfer request from Gary Hooper"

Norwich City manager Neil Adams has rejected speculation that Gary Hooper has submitted a transfer request.

There had been recent reports that the 26-year-old had informed the club of his desire to leave following their relegation to the Championship, with the likes of Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers said to be monitoring the situation.

However, Adams has dismissed that rumour and also revealed that he has informed the centre-forward that he has a "big part" to play at Carrow Road next term.

"There's been no transfer request from Gary Hooper. I spoke to him two days ago and told him he's one of the players we need to keep. He can score goals, Gary Hooper can. He will be a big part of the squad, along with many, many others," the Pink 'Un quotes Adams as saying.

"So I understand there's bound to be this sort of speculation and rumour, and somebody can make a throwaway comment that suddenly becomes national news, but Gary Hooper has not handed in a transfer request. I've told him I need him here to hopefully be part of pushing this team back into the Premier League and he was happy with that."

Hooper joined the Canaries from Celtic last summer for a fee believed to be in the region of £5m.