Norwich City's deal for Sporting Lisbon striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel has come to the rescue of the cash-strapped club.

Sporting is a listed company but the 18-time champions, struggling in 10th place in the table, are reported to be in big financial trouble - with debts of 260m euros.

It is thought the transfer will allow the club to pay two months' worth of backdated wages to its players and coaching staff, says the Pink 'Un.

Sporting are understood to have demanded at least 10 million euros for Van Wolfswinkel because of a complicated financial arrangement whereby they sold the Dutchman 65 per cent of their "economic rights" for a total of about 3.5 million euros, and would therefore receive only 35 per cent of any transfer fee if he moves on.