Wigan boss Paul Jewell, who has already taken midfielder Damien Francis from the relegated Canaries, has made little secret of his need for a striker after the sale of Nathan Ellington to West Bromwich Albion. He has admitted an interest in Ashton, but that he doubts City would sell.
Ashton moved to Carrow Road from Crewe Alexandra in January in a £3million deal which smashed the club's transfer record. His seamless transition from Championship to Premiership hotshot surprised many who had been unprepared to take a risk on a striker previously linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
The striker himself has explicitly reaffirmed his commitment to the Norwich cause, scoring twice in the opening three matches, but will have been frustrated by the speed at which his under-21 strike partner Darren Bent earned promotion to the full side after just one appearance in the top flight with Charlton.
City manager Nigel Worthington has previously rubbished rumours of a sale, slamming down talk of a switch to West Ham by saying that they couldn't afford him. The Norwich hierarchy see Ashton as potentially the decisive player in achieving promotion back to the top flight.
With no word so far from Carrow Road, Yellows fans are reminded that there are just over two weeks until the transfer window slams shut, hopefully with Dean Ashton, and the likes of Robert Green and Darren Huckerby, still inside the house that Delia built.