Some reports a couple of days ago were suggesting that the deal was as good as done, and that Paolo was to be the latest young Englishman (and a local, at that) to leave the Aresnal in search of first-team football.

But yesterday City's caretaker boss Nigel Worthington confirmed that he had made an enquiry as to Vernazza's availability, but added that many such calls are typically made in any given week, and that there was no further news.

Today it's being reported that the clubs had agreed a fee of half a million, but that Vernazza has decided he doesn't want to move to Norfolk.