Hughton to investigate want-away Hoolahan comments

Norwich manager Chris Hughton will investigate reports want-away midfielder Wes Hoolahan made derogatory remarks about the Canaries ahead of a media conference yesterday afternoon.

Hoolahan’s transfer request has been rejected following on from a bid by Aston Villa, managed by former Canaries boss Paul Lambert, which was turned down.

The Republic of Ireland international is understood to have been involved in a brief off-air exchange with a television reporter, witnessed by her cameraman, in a separate area of the club’s Colney training complex where they were preparing for a different interview, during which Hoolahan allegedly used expletives to describe his current employers.

Hughton, who yesterday clinched the signing of defender Joseph Yobo on loan for the rest of the season from Turkish club Fenerbahce, was unaware of the incident when he later attended a scheduled media briefing, but intends to look into what happened before deciding on any disciplinary action.

“What you are telling me is news to me. It is not something I am aware of and is something I will have to investigate,” said Hughton.

“What I have always been able to do is front the media on something I have knowledge of and can speak of in an appropriate and correct way.”

Hughton added: “We know it is an unsettling time for players in that situation (out of the team), but it won’t be the first or the last time you have to deal with situations like that, and it is my responsibility as the manager (to do so).

“There are always going to be procedures you have at the club, whether a player wants to go or whether the club want to keep that particular player. At this moment, Wes is very much a Norwich player ”

Meanwhile, Schalke remain confident Julian Draxler will not be leaving for Arsenal or anywhere else ahead of the close of January window tonight — but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger maintains “in any hour, anything can happen”.

Wenger claimed yesterday there were no imminent deals, amid reports chief transfer negotiator Dick Law had travelled to Germany to push through a big-money deal for the promising German international.

The Arsenal manager has long been an admirer of 20-year-old attacking midfielder Draxler, said to have a £37 million buyout clause and who would go a long way to compensate for the loss of England forward Theo Walcott to a season-ending knee injury.

Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt told a news conference he was “very convinced” Draxler would remain at the Gelsenkirchen club for the second half of the season and “most probably beyond that”, insisting the Bundesliga side were “not interested in letting Julian leave” and also that the player had “not approached us about a transfer.”

Wenger remains keen to bring in some offensive cover, although Mirko Vucinic’s agent insists the Montenegro international is set to stay in Juventus amid reports of a loan switch to the Emirates Stadium.

“Are we active? Yes. Are we close to sign anybody? No,” Wenger said.

“There is not long now, that is true.

“In any hour, anything can happen or change, but at the moment, unfortunately, we are not signing anybody.”

Republic of Ireland striker Simon Cox scored twice and his club and international team-mate Andy Reid impressed as Nottingham Forest came from two down to beat Watford 4-2 in the last night’s Championship clash.