Hughton set for Norwich talks

Birmingham City manager Chris Hughton has been granted permission to speak to Premier League club Norwich City.

The 53-year-old led Birmingham to the Championship play-offs last season, though the club eventually missed out on a return to the English top flight.

And Hughton is now seemingly in line to make a return to the Premier League as Paul Lambert’s replacement after the former Norwich boss moved to Aston Villa last week.

A Norwich statement read: “Norwich City can confirm that Birmingham City have granted the club permission to speak to Chris Hughton about the vacant managerial position at Carrow Road. The club will be making no further comment at this stage.”

Birmingham confirmed Hughton was ‘reluctantly granted’ permission to talk to Norwich.

“Birmingham City can confirm that Norwich City have made an approach for Chris Hughton with regards to their vacant managerial position,” a Birmingham statement read.

“Hughton expressed a wish to speak to the Canaries and permission was reluctantly granted.

“Chris is a great manager and deserves the opportunity to speak to Norwich, which is why we have granted him permission to speak to them.”