I could see something in the Assaidi links actually. Whilst we've plenty of midfielders, beyond Bennett we've got nobody like Redmond. Assaidi's record at Stoke was pretty respectable, so he ticks the "PL Proven" box. The only issue is the number of midfielders we've got, we surely couldn't justify him coming in until we've got rid of Andreu or Odjidja.
I haven't seen enough of Andreu or Odjidja to pass comment on whether they need getting rid of but as they were in the reckoning for a place in the team last Saturday it would not seem that AN is of that view. I suspect that he is more interested in moving on high earners such as RvW, Hooper, Lafferty and Turner as that would free up considerably more of the wage budget.
Now it's Bologna again http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2569816/norwich-target-mattia-destro-set-to-join-bologna-sources
I doubt Odjidja is going without either to be honest. They were in the reckoning, but Andreu, Odjidja, and arguably Hooper are all competing to replace Hoolahan, who would only be out of the team at the moment because of injury. Howson, Dorrans, Redmond and Bennett could all cover that position too if we were desperate. There's a lot of cover there. Even if we could sell RvW and bring in a midfielder, there's the secondary question of how you keep even more midfielders happy.
Brilliant news - rehabilitation complete. I just wonder what is said when he bumps into Adams at Colney nowadays.
Sorry if I didn't make my point clear DH but I just cannot see that AN would be interested in buying another midfielder. Keeping them happy? £20k a week helps or am I just an old mercenary?
Sensational news IMO. Now I'd like to see Redmond, Johnson, Tettey and Olsson get them as well please... Not much to ask! EDIT: Tettey's expires next year, but we have a further one-year option so that's probably ok...
Fair enough. We'll agree to disagree there. As for £20k p/w, of course there's some who are just mercenaries, but our own Wes for example tried to force a move for playing time. I'd also hope that as a club who will never pay truly ludicrous wages, that we attract fewer mercenaries than others!
Southampton were linked to Koulibaly before, now it's our turn: http://www.norwich.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=409896 Whilst I trust VitalFootball about as much as twitter, their source is actually Di Marzio, who is pretty highly regarded when it comes to Italian football. Quote Di Marzio, garbled by Google transalte: "A season with ups and downs, the first in Serie A for Kalidou Koulibaly. After only a year in blue, the French defender, however, could leave Napoli. In addition to Southampton, it is done under, always from the Premier League, although the Norwich. Trattattiva underway with Napoli, eleven million Euros more bonuses to the proposal presented to the club blue: possible updates in the coming hours. And on Koulibaly sirens from the Premier increasingly insistent." Ah, his site has an English section.... "Kalidou Koulibaly left Genk to join Napoli last summer, but after just one season in Serie A he could be on his way out. Norwich has in fact joined Southampton in the race for the French defender, the English club has offered Napoli €11 million plus bonuses: there could be possible developments in the next few hours. Koulibaly could be heading to the Premier League."
Tweet from Mattia to Bologna fans Michael Bailey @michaeljbailey Apparently it translates: "From today begins my new adventure with #Bologna, I will give all to repay your trust! I'm coming! I'm utterly destro-ght
