NORWICH City are keen to find Louis Thompson a temporary home in the Championship for the second half of the season.

The Advertiser understands that the Premier League club feel the Wales Under 21 international would benefit from playing a higher standard of football and are focusing their efforts into finding him a club in the second tier.

A deal had been agreed with Blackburn Rovers for Thompson to spend the second half of the season at Ewood Park, but the dismissal of Gary Bowyer has scuppered the move.

It is unlikely that Norwich will allow Town to extend Thompson’s loan past its expiry on December 18 as they seek to make him available for a new club in January.

With the market for midfielders in the Championship crowded it is not unforeseeable that Thompson could return to Town should a deal higher up not be forthcoming. However any potential return is unlikely until late January or even the emergency loan window the following month.

It is thought that Thompson would be happy to remain at Town, a club where he made his professional debut as 17-year-old, with the Canaries the driving force behind seeking to push the midfielder into the Championship.

Since returning to the club on a youth loan in September, the midfielder has made seven appearances, two of those from the bench.

Town’s current situation with the number of loan players they have available has put Thompson’s place in the first team squad in jeopardy. Boss Martin Ling is allowed a maximum of five loanees in his 18-man matchday squad.