Norwich set to sign James Vaughan from Everton for £2.5m

Norwich City have begun strengthening for their return to the Premier League next season by agreeing a £2.5m fee with Everton for the striker James Vaughan. The 22-year-old spent the majority of last season on loan at Crystal Palace, where he scored nine goals to help the club avoid relegation from the Championship, and is available for a permanent transfer as David Moyes seeks to raise funds for new arrivals. The two clubs have agreed an initial £1.5m deal, rising to £2.5m on appearances, and Norwich have been given permission to discuss personal terms with the former England Under-21 international. Vaughan was tipped to have a successful career at Everton having risen through their youth system to become the club's – and the Premier League's – youngest goalscorer, against Palace in April 2005. However, the Birmingham-born forward missed crucial years in his development due to a dreadful catalogue of injuries that included a ruptured cruciate ligament on England Under-18s duty, a dislocated shoulder and a severed artery in his foot. He rarely had an extended run in the Everton team as a consequence and, despite being a firm admirer of his abilities, Moyes sanctioned a series of loan moves to increase Vaughan's playing time. Palace wanted to sign the striker on a permanent basis this summer but they are likely to miss out due to both finance and the lure of the Premier League. The Crystal Palace chairman, Steve Parish, had admitted: "It is going to be difficult for us to compete with top-flight clubs."