Norwich City boss Paul Lambert is believed to have agreed a fee with Millwall for centre-half Zak Whitbread, according to reports. It is understood the six-foot defender is due to undergo a medical with the Canaries imminently as Lambert looks to complete his third signing of the week.

Norwich City boss Paul Lambert is believed to have agreed a fee with Millwall for centre-half Zak Whitbread, according to reports.

It is understood the six-foot defender is due to undergo a medical with the Canaries imminently as Lambert looks to complete his third signing of the week.

The Canaries are reported to have been given permission to speak to the 25-year-old after agreeing a fee with the Lions for the ex-Liverpool trainee who is out of contract in the summer.

League One rivals Huddersfield have also been linked with a January window raid on the New Den after seeing a proposed November loan move fall through.

Whitbread's agent and former Manchester United defender Kevin Moran was unavailable for comment yesterday but the USA Under-23 international has previously seen moves to Championship clubs Peterborough and Swansea collapse.

The blond centre-back, however, needs regular first team action to force his way into America's World Cup squad after being sidelined all season with a hip injury.

Whitbread returned to training only last month but Millwall now appear ready to accept a cut-price offer for a player who would be a free agent in the summer.

The Texan's pending arrival is set to bolster City's threadbare back line with Danish defender Jens Berthel Askou ruled out for at least another five weeks with a broken metatarsal.

Michael Nelson and Gary Doherty are currently Lambert's only senior recognised centre-halves although Michael Spillane is expected to step up his return from a hamstring problem later this month.

Lambert was previously knocked back in his pursuit of Exeter's highly-rated young defender Dan Seaborne but Whitbread would join new permanent recruits Russell Martin and Anthony McNamee at Carrow Road.