Norwich City are thought to be willing to spend as much as £15million to land Fulham striker Ross McCormack this summer.
The 29-year-old, who scored 21 Championship goals for the Whites last season, did not travel to Portugal with the team to continue their pre-season preparations.
Fulham’s official explanation for the absentees for the Algarve trip is that a number of players have stayed behind for treatment at Motspur Park.
Aston Villa also remain interested in the Scottish international, who signed to Fulham from Leeds for £11million in 2014.
Both Villa owner Tony Xia and manager Roberto Di Matteo have emphasised that a new striker is a priority.
Whites boss Slavisa Jokanovic is said to be targeting three Derby County players ahead of McCormack’s rumoured departure - Chris Martin, Johnny Russell and David Keogh.
Strikers Martin and Russell would restore some firepower to the club after the sale of Moussa Dembele and expected exit of Scottish frontman McCormack.
Martin scored 15 league goals last season for the Rams with Russell netting 10, helping their team finish fifth in the 2015/16 Championship table.
Keogh would help strengthen the defence, which has already been bolstered by the loan capture of Chelsea’s Tomas Kalas.
McCormack signed a new contract with the Whites earlier this year to keep him at Craven Cottage until 2020 following reports they rejected a transfer request from him earlier this year.
Odds on McCormack’s departure to Norwich currently stand at 1/5, Aston Villa on 16/1 and 100/30 for him to stay at Craven Cottage with Sky Bet.
Canaries head coach Alex Neil looking to do everything he can to send his side back to the Premier League and feels McCormack can play a key role next term.
Jokanovic is also in the market for more players to boost his squad ahead of their first league game against Newcastle on 5th August.
