Transfer Centre

Alex Neil: 'Lewis Grabban has been a silly boy'

By Callum Mulvihill, Reporter | 27 August 2015

Norwich City boss Alex Neil labels Bournemouth target Lewis Grabban a "silly boy" after he left the team's hotel earlier this week.

Norwich City manager Alex Neil has labelled Lewis Grabban a "silly boy" after he was suspended by the club for leaving the team's hotel earlier this week.

Bournemouth have failed with two bids for the striker this month and Grabban, who is reported to be keen on a return to the Cherries, walked out of a hotel without permission on Tuesday as the speculation surrounding his future continues.

However, Neil insists that he will not be put under pressure to sell the 27-year-old before the end of the transfer window.

"We have total control and we will dictate what happens between now and the end of the window," the Canaries boss told reporters. "There will not be any player or collection of players that have any more power that what I let them have.

"I think this is the way the game's going now, with agents involved so heavily and different people trying to put pressure on players and pressure on clubs – sometimes people get sucked in by that.

"Lewis has been a silly boy. If any player leaves without permission then there'll be consequences coming their way – the same goes for every player. He has accepted it, he's got no option."

Grabban scored 12 goals in 36 games last season after moving to Carrow Road from Bournemouth.