Buffel, 27, joined Glasgow giants Rangers in 2005 in a £2.5million deal from Dutch side Feyenoord. The attacking midfielder had fallen out with coach Ruud Gullit after refusing to sign a new deal after three years at the club, during which time he scored 34 goals in 90 appearances.
The Belgian international, who has six goals in his 24 appearances for his country, hit five goals in his first season in Scotland despite only featuring 18 times, and helped Rangers to a League and League Cup double.
Buffel has been linked with moves to several clubs away from Ibrox, notably Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga. Since suffering a serious knee injury in February last year he has fund his first team appearances under Walter Smith limited.
Norwich boss Glenn Roeder is said to be keen on Buffel, who began his career with Excelsior, and he can be added to a lengthy list of proposed transfer targets, with nobody yet having been confirmed as the first new signing of the summer.
One of those, Newcastle's young striker Andy Carroll, is said this morning to be interesting Derby County, whose manager Paul Jewell has completed seven signings already this summer.
Sunderland's Ian Harte, available on a free transfer and twice linked with a switch to Carrow Road, is again said to be intersting East Anglian rivals Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys' flirtation with Newcastle's Shola Ameobi, also admired by Roeder, is looking likely to be hijacked by Premier League new boys Hull City.
The Tigers' manager Phil Brown is said to be preparing a bid for the 26-year-old of around £2million. Toon chairman Mike Ahley is known to be keen to cash in on the striker, deemed surplus to requirements by Kevin Keegan.