Norwich City have rebuffed Serie A strugglers Verona’s opening buy option for Adam Idah, as talks continue ahead of the transfer window deadline.

The Italians are believed to have made Norwich a loan offer, with a buy option in the region of €3.5m for the Republic of Ireland international, who is out of favour under David Wagner.

The Canaries value the 22-year-old considerably higher than that figure, given Idah is only 12 months into a five-year deal signed last February.

City will also only sanction the Irishman’s departure if they can bring in a replacement ahead of Thursday’s 11pm deadline.

That work is on-going, led by sporting director Ben Knapper, with Norwich exploring the possibility of players who could be available on loan and with buy options.

City were willing to let Idah go out on loan at the start of the window, until Nottingham Forest loan striker Hwang Ui-jo had to cut short his spell due to a hamstring issue.

The South Korean international will not return to Carrow Road this month, contrary to reports over the weekend.

Idah’s representatives have travelled to Italy to continue discussions with the ‘Yellow and Blues’. Verona’s Serie A rivals, Genoa, held an interest in the Cork-bred attacker earlier in the window.

The 22-year-old wants regular game time, after only 31 league starts in 99 appearances for the club since making his full Premier League debut at Manchester United in January 2020.