Hill left fuming over Canaries’ ‘joke’ offer for Butterfield

The Bradford-born midfielder, 22, is out of contract but Barnsley are still entitled to compensation because he is under the age of 24.

Norwich’s initial offer is described as an ‘absolute joke’ by manager Keith Hill who regards Butterfield as one of the best players in the Championship.

A Football League transfer tribunal will now settle the fee.

“The initial offer received by the football club is an absolute joke. It is scandalous and disrespectful,” said Hill. “Jacob has been at the football club for a number of years. Last year, he was made team captain, he was selected for the England Under-21s, he was selected for the (provisional) Olympic GB team and, for me, it just stinks.

“I am very cynical about the whole tribunal affair,” he added.

“You never get a true reflection or valuation. It seems ridiculous that they (Norwich) will go to tribunal trying to get him for as little monetary value as possible which is probably a reflection of them not really fancying him – and they do, they do want to recruit him – but they don’t want to do the right thing and meet somewhere in the middle with respect to what we feel Jacob is worth and what they feel he is worth.

“I am disappointed because this has lingered on since January,” Hill said. “I would have expected business to have been concluded by now and probably in a more appropriate manner than it has been over the last four or five days.”

Butterfield, who has not played first-team football since suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury against Leeds United on New Year’s Day, had also been linked with Newcastle United and Reading.

He made exactly 100 appearances for Barnsley and became the youngest captain in the club’s history last season.

Speaking after penning a four-year deal with the Canaries, Butterfield said: “It was important to get the right move – where I’m going to play football – the last thing I want to do is miss any more time on the field.

“I’ve never lied throughout the whole six to nine months, however long this transfer saga has been going on.

“I wanted to play in the Premier League and I had no intention of making a sideways move for more money.”

Rotherham United defender Ryan Cresswell has joined Southend United on a two-year deal.

Blackburn Rovers have signed striker Leon Best from Newcastle United for £3m and former Portugal striker Nuno Gomes on a free transfer. The 35-year-old striker, released by Sporting Braga, has agreed a two-year deal.

Andre-Villas Boas was yesterday confirmed as Tottenham’s new head coach.