Hooper move collapsed over VIP box

Simon Wilkes
Gary Hooper: Staying at Norwich

Gary Hooper: Staying at Norwich

Gary Hooper’s loan move to Sheffield Wednesday reportedly fell through because the Owls refused to include a VIP box in the £32,000-a-week striker’s deal.

Wednesday, bankrolled by new owner Dejphon Chansiri, signed 15 players during the summer transfer window but their attempt to recruit Hooper broke down before the deadline.

Hooper passed a medical with Wednesday last week and the club had agreed a £500,000 loan fee with Norwich, as well as taking on the forward’s entire salary.

But Sheffield paper The Star are reporting that the move collapsed because Wednesday refused to include in the deal a VIP box at Hillsborough for Hooper’s family and friends.

According to The Star, boxes at Hillsborough cost around £30,000 per season. Hooper will now remain at Norwich, having also been linked with Fulham after the Wednesday move collapsed.