Grant Holt looks set to switch the Premier League for the Championship after Wigan have agreed to a transfer fee with Norwich City.
The Latics will now sit down with Holt to discuss personal terms with the hope of finalizing the deal within the next week.
Holt has been a member of the Canaries since 2009 and was one of the main reasons for the club’s early success in the Premier League, scoring 15 league goals in the 2011-12 season. That form provided Holt with some hope that he might be named named to the England squad for the 2012 Euro, but the call never came.
The striker went on to have an under-whelming spell at Carrow Road last season, scoring only four times before the New Year. The drop in form convinced Norwich manager Chris Hughton to bring in some new blood during the January transfer window, signing Sporting Kansas City striker Kei Kamara on loan.
Despite the added competition, Holt experienced major difficulties rediscovering the bull-driving form that he displayed the prior season. In the fourteen league matches he played after January 1st, he managed only a single goal until he finally netted in the 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on April 5th. That goal prompted Holt to finish strong, scoring in each of his final three appearances for the club.
But 8 goals in 36 league contests was not good enough and Norwich went shopping. The Canaries dropped £10 million ($14.9m) on Sporting Lisbon striker, Ricky von Wolfswinkle, and £2 million ($3m) on winger-come-striker Nathan Redmond from Birmingham City.
More: Nathan Redmond signs with Norwich City - Can the 19 year old make an impact at Carrow Road?
The Canaries also are reportedly close to signing Celtic striker Gary Hooper on a deal in the region of a £4.5 million ($6.7m). That deal, if completed, would render Holt excess goods at Carrow Road.
The Latics, however, do not see the 32 year old in such a dim light as new boss Owen Coyle will look for Holt to spearhead Wigan’s attack in the hope of a quick return to the Premier League.
The move for Holt will provide Wigan with cover as Ivorian striker, Arouna Kone, looks set to leave the DW Stadium on a £5 million ($7.5m) move to join former boss Roberto Martinez at Everton.
