So with the season wrapped up, and the first ins and outs confirmed for this summer's window - but before the wild speculation reaches fever pitch - if you were in charge of transfers, what would you be doing with our squad this summer? Current squad: GK: Krul, McGovern, Nyland (out of contract), Barden, Oxborough RB: Aarons, Mumba, Byram CB: Hanley, Gibson, Zimmerman, Omobamidele, Famewo LB: Giannoulis, McCallum CM: McLean, Rupp, Sitti, Sorensen, Adshead LAM: Cantwell, Martin, Placheta CAM: Stiepermann, Dowell RAM: Buendia, Hernandez, ST: Pukki, Idah, Hugill, Soto, Sinani Presumably not in plans: Drmic, Leitner, Trybull, Heise, Thompson, Klose Who stays, who goes, who would you like to bring in?
For me.... Permanent departures: Nyland: We need better competition for Krul Aarons: I think we're going to need to fund transfers, his stock is high and RB is probably an easier position to sign replacements. Would be a shame to see him go, but think it would be a net gain. Zimmerman: At 28 he shouldn't be done, but doesn't seem to be the same player he was pre-injury. Wouldn't be against him staying as 4th choice. Stiepermann: Illness wrecked his season, but he wasn't convincing in the Prem, leading to the club moving for Duda instead of playing him. I don't think he's going to be a major figure next season, and I'm not sure we'd want to be reliant on him in a future championship season either. Hernandez: Similar assessment to Stiepermann really, I'm not sure I see him playing a major role in a future Prem or Championship season. Those last three in particular seem like big characters in the dressing room, so important to replace them well! Also departing would be those out of the picture: Drmic, Leitner, Trybull, Heise, Thompson, Klose. Trybull the only one who perhaps could come back into the fold if we're desperate for DM cover. Loan out: Omobamidele or Famewo - Hard to tell who is better, give them both pre-season to claim a 4th/5th CB role in the squad, loan the other to the Championship. McCallum - Think he needs to play in a more possession based system, either upper Championship or abroad. Sitti - Needs game time to figure out where he fits. Adshead - Started strongly at Telstar but seems to have faded? Not ready for the squad it seems. Martin - Needs game time for him to develop, don't think he'll get it here. Championship or top end League One loan. Placheta - Just don't see him being ready for the Prem, needs to develop some composure in the Championship. Sinani - Perhaps needs to play in English football somewhere? Cambridge? Soto - Similar assessment Idah - Needs to lead the line somewhere, don't think he's ready to challenge Pukki for a start, which is what we really need next season. Incoming: GK: Someone to challenge Krul and not put up too much fuss if not playing. Happy with Krul as #1. RB: Right-sided Giannoulis, sign someone for £5-8m and use the rest of the Aarons money to improve elsewhere: CB: One if not two signings. Would be interested in Phillips or Rhys Williams from Liverpool, who will surely be looking for moves when Van Dijk, Matip and Gomez regain fitness. LB: Backup signing, wouldn't mind someone with a more Drury-like mentality of defence-first, to offer an alternative option in tough games or against strong wingers. DM: Skipp + 1 ideally, but looks like we need two signings. Such a crucial position for a team like us. Maybe Sorensen can be the player we need, but I wish we'd had a chance to see it. CM: I'm not sure I can see McLean or Rupp stepping up to be a mid-Prem midfielder. Happy to be proven wrong, but would like an extra body. AM: I'm pretty happy with the partnership Cantwell, Dowell and Buendia are building, but we're thin on the group behind that. We definitely need a player who can challenge for a start, or step in if injuries strike. If Hernandes, Placheta and Martin do all leave in some fashion, we'd probably want another signing here too, but not necessarily a frontline option. Harvey Elliott on loan maybe? Looked great in the Championship and will want a Prem loan. ST: Another Pukki-like striker, to share the load and cover injuries. Hugill is too different, and if Idah is the player we hope he is then he needs to be out proving it. Liam Delap or Cole Parmer from Man City perhaps a cheap option? So that's: 11 players sold 9 player leaving on loan 10 in? Probably 9/11 of the first choice XI this season maintain their starting roles for the first game of next season, but with the bench significantly upgraded to the point Farke has real selection headaches as the season progresses.
Considering this season, my first task would be to get a contract sorted out for ZK to do the match day threads. Get him tied down to a contract asap
I'm inclined to agree with most of DHC's assessment, though couple of points... I think Omobamidele has done enough to secure a 1st team squad place. He's looked right at home alongside Hamleys and I'd not be surprised if he's pushed Zimbo down to 4th. Big call given DF's relationship with Zimbo but with our history of CB injuries, I'd like 1 more established CB in and keep O'dele plus Zimbo (at 5) if numbers permit. DM replacement for Skipp (if we can't secure him) plus 1 other is my priority. Another CAM type to challenge Dowell ahead of Stieps. LB is a tough one now that Quintilla's gone. Lots of potential cover there but i'd much rather leave Sorensen in DM role rather than tinkering like last PL season. I just don't know how good Sam Mac is. That's a call for SW probably. I'm leaving strikers as they are. I'm excited to see more of Idah and frankly i want to see what Soto can do for us too. I suspect a loan for him and Sinani is perhaps more likely but the hype is real! I've liked what i've seen of Mumba so really down to when Maximillian is off, but i'd have a RB on my shopping list too if only to challenge Mumba. Obvs replacements for Bendy and Cantwell if they do buzz off. (Where do you find another Buendia?)
Much will depend on whether any players leave for big money as much of the available budget has already gone for Gibson (£8.5m) and Giannoulis (£6m). Aarons is the most likely given his rumoured suitors and that would give SW some money to spend on the current 4/5 squad places available. Some will go for a new RB, which won't leave a lot of scope for new PL players. We spent nearly £7m on McCallum and Sitti, so I'd be a bit disappointed if they went out on loan again. Both will count as U21 so wouldn't take squad places and McCallum especially proved himself at Coventry. The same could be said for Famewo at Charlton, but he has had problems with injuries. Omobamidele has grown rapidly in his current run of games and could provide a 5th CB option while also playing with the U23s. I think Hernandez and Placheta will stay as their pace could be useful in the PL where we will counterattack more. If we bring in a quality AM to replace Vrančić, Stieperman could provide a third option there and cover elsewhere. Rupp is also versatile and did well enough in the PL last time. Thus I think we'll keep the PL experience we have and add 4/5 quality players to create cover and competition, using the young players to create depth.
Looking at the '4/5 quality players to create cover and competition' I suggested above I'd rank them in this order: 1 - CB: (preferably left footed) Ajer? 2 - DM/CM: Skipp? Garner? 3 - AM: Christie? Gauld? Hamer? 4 - S/AM: Joshua King? 5 - RB: (if Aarons leaves) Williams? GK: Krul, Nyland or other, McGovern RB: Aarons, Byram, Mumba LB: Giannoulis, McCallum (Sørensen) CB: Hanley, Zimmerman, Ajer? CB: Gibson, Famewo, Omobamidele DM: Sørensen, Skipp?, Sitti CM: McLean, Rupp, Adshead WR: Buendia, Placheta, Martin WL: Cantwell, Hernandez, Sinani? AM: Dowell, Stieperman, Christie or other? S: Pukki, Hugill, Idah, King? or other? That's 21 senior players and 7 U21 players (U21s are in italics). That leaves 4 places still available, or 5/6 if Sinani and/or Famewo go out on loan again. New players added since we were last in the PL are underlined to indicate the progression since then. An intelligent and detailed analysis of our progression and future potential is below: https://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/articles/will-norwich-city-fare-better-premier-league-return
That's one of the decisions SW has to make. As you say, a loan (if it works) can benefit development, but there's also an argument for having sufficient back-up in the PL. Omobamidele is 18 and would also benefit from playing in the U23s where most players are older. If we get another CB and/or Famewo stays in the squad then a loan makes sense.
For me playing for the U23's is not enough I think they both need to be playing regularly against seasoned professional ideally in Omobamidele case at championship level, Martin lower championship / upper league 1.
Pinkun's take on attacking positions: https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwic...tacking-options-summer-premier-league-7971502 Pukki, Dowell, Idah definitely stay. Buendia and Cantwell may be for sale at the right price, but it'll break a transfer record. Stiepermann, Hugill, and Hernandez available for transfers if there's interest, but it won't be forced by the club. Placheta could leave on loan or a permanent move. Martin likely to leave on loan. No new striker unless Hugill leaves, belief that Idah will step up.