Good luck to Hugill and loan move to WBA who look like they could be pushing for promotion to PL this season.
The Athletic today: "Norwich remain confident they will sign a fifth centre-back before the summer transfer window closes, along with a much-needed defensive midfielder. Rostov’s Norwegian international, Mathias Normann, is an active target but far from the only one. His is proving a difficult deal to get over the line. Meanwhile, Jacob Sorensen showed a degree of defensive midfield nous against Bournemouth that Norwich’s other options have struggled to achieve in the top flight."
Placheta caught Covid at just the wrong time, it's probably made it much more difficult to get him a loan. I think earlier in the window, the impression was that Onel wasn't someone the club were actively looking to move on, because he's a great personality to have in training and in the squad, whilst not on massive money, but they'd listen to offers and the players' wishes. With Tzolis, Rashica having come in and clearly put themselves above him in the pecking order, it wouldn't surprise me if he looks for a move. It's interesting seeing the club strike a balance between evolution and continuity. Zimmerman, Hugill are others who are apparently very important at Colney, if not so much at Carrow Road. Tettey, Klose is/were similarly. There's a need to keep some of that around the squad, but balance it with improving things.
We already have 5 CB’s in Gibson, Hanley, Klose, Zimmermann and Omobamidele. Klose seems to have disappeared off the radar after returning from loan period in Switzerland or has he moved on?
Not a bad shout. He's 29 and more of a CM/DM/AM but might fit the bill on a 2 year contract if wages could be agreed.
Klose, like Trybull, doesn't appear to be in the first team picture this season. Neither got squad numbers, and they're training separately. I think Farke/Webber seem to be fairly clear when these decisions are made: "We'll provide you a coach, and you can use the facilities, but there's no path back to the first team". Drmic didn't even get a recall last season when we were so desperate for strikers we had an unfit Stiepermann up front. Not sure if the interview he did with The Athletic today has prompted this, but it's an interesting read. He reckons he hasn't had an injury since January 2020, and that was a routine hernia rather than his ankles. So he took part in every training session, playing whenever an opportunity arose whilst at Bournemouth last season. He trained with an unnamed club this summer, but he's not had a single conversation about anyone in the UK signing him. 15 appearances (714 mins) for Bournemouth last season, Whoscored average of 6.35, averaging 0.9 tackles per game, 0.3 interceptions, 88% pass completion, 0.5 key passes per game. He largely a variety of roles in the Bournemouth midfield, but was never the out and out DM, usually Lerma or Pearson took that role, often with Billing as the third midfielder also offering physicality. He clearly has (had?) talent and experience, but I don't think he fits our needs. He'd be competing with Rupp, McLean, Lees-Melou and Gilmour for the CM positions, rather than with Gilmour and Sorensen for the DM position. But if someone takes him on and helps him rediscover that ability, then they've got a bargain.
The suggestion was inspired by the Athletic interview DH, he seemed so down and desperate to get back playing. If he can stay for he would be a bargain for someone. I was thinking his experience could be valuable but agree he probably doesn’t fit the DM mould quite how we would need him to. I love the guy as a player and really hope he can rediscover his form somewhere
He was honest, hard-working, and apparently a great influence in the dressing room. I hope it works out for him at West Brom.
Pretty decent of us to cut our losses and let him go out and play . He's contracted until June 2023 so the better he does the better for us
I believe the final sum we paid for Buendia was in the region of £5m. We have bought Rashica, Sargent, Tzolis and PLM for less than we got for Buendia, therefore, in reality, they cost about £5m in total. OK, convoluted logic.
Trying to not get too excited about this rumour, but according to SkySports: "Norwich City are in talks with Real Betis over the signing of Portugal international midfielder William Carvalho. Norwich keen to strengthen in that area and Carvalho is one of a number of players they are looking at." A genuine DM rather than a hybrid CM/DM/AM, Carvalho has 68 caps for Portugal and at 6'2" would certainly add to our physicality in front of the defence. https://www.skysports.com/transfer-centre Edit: Connor Southwell considers it unlikely: "City are considering a few options for the position and talks over a move for Rostov midfielder Mathias Normann is continuing. It is understood that the Canaries have considered the ex-Sporting Lisbon midfielder as a potential option but a deal looks unlikely."
The only thing that puts me off is that he's their highest paid player , and he's 29 so no sell on and near the end of his career . Otherwise he's perfect for us genuinely World class .
