Newcastle United will look to keep their winning streak going at Norwich City on Saturday, but Eddie Howe can also use the clash to scout three Canaries stars for summer transfers.
The Toon head to Carrow Road on a run of three wins, to move 11th in the Premier League table. Only title-contenders Liverpool have taken more points in 2022 than the Magpies so far, in fact. The Reds have claimed 35 of a potential 39, to Newcastle’s haul of 29 from 42.
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Norwich, meanwhile, have claimed the third-least in 2022 with 11 from 39 – only Everton (10 of 42) and Watford (9 from 45) have taken fewer. They have also only won one of their last 10 top-flight fixtures, leaving Dean Smith’s side rooted to the bottom of the standings.
Relegation is calling for Norwich, as they stare at an eight-point gap to Everton in 18th and safe with six games to play, ahead of hosting Newcastle. And falling straight back down to the Championship will, no doubt, see the Carrow Road ranks ravished by preying vultures.
The Toon were one of the clubs to raid the ranks in Norfolk after their last relegation back in 2020. Steve Bruce added Jamal Lewis for £15m, rising to £20m with add-ons, while Ben Godfrey joined Everton for £20m. Now, Howe can look to do similar in the summer sales.
Dimitris Giannoulis
Norwich retained Dimitris Giannoulis last year following a season on loan from PAOK. The Canaries paid the Greek outfit £6m for the left-back’s permanent transfer, and could now offer Newcastle an option to consider with Lewis’ future at St James’ Park now in doubt.
According to TEAMtalk, Lewis is one of seven Newcastle stars Howe is considering letting go of this summer. TEAMtalk also report Middlesbrough are monitoring his situation, with boss Chris Wilder and his recruitment team fans of the Northern Ireland international.
Giannoulis could offer Newcastle a low-cost option to support Matt Targett and give depth at left-back next season with a transfer from Norwich. The 26-year-old has only featured in 14 Premier League games this season, but has impressed in the Canaries’ recent matches.
Smith has started the 18-cap Greece defender against Brighton, Burnley and Manchester United so far this month. He also caused the Red Devils troubles at Old Trafford last week, combining well with Teemu Pukki and regularly advancing to join their attacking moves.
Mathias Normann
Daniel Farke dipped into the Russian Premier Liga for Norwich to sign Normann in August. The holding midfielder moved to Carrow Road on loan from FC Rostov for the season with an option to buy. The Athletic report the clause is worth £11m, on top of a £1.5m loan fee.
It was also noted at the time of Normann’s arrival in Norfolk that Norwich will likely need to retain their Premier League status to purchase the Norwegian this year. As that is now very unlikely, the 25-year-old is another option Howe can scout for the Toon on Saturday.
Normann has regularly been among the Canaries’ top-performers throughout their tough term to date. He has offered both Farke and current coach Smith a box-to-box presence, able to create chances at one end but also provide cover for the back-four at the other.
The 12-cap international also stunned Magpies icon Alan Shearer with his performance at Brentford in November. The Newcastle hero lauded Normann after he scored Norwich’s first goal to win 2-1 in west London. It remains his only goal, plus two assists, this season.
“He was fantastic,” Shearer said, via quotes by Norfolk Live. “It was certainly [Norwich’s] best performance of the season, and this guy was instrumental in everything that Norwich did well. It’s a fantastic strike for the goal.
“He goes past two or three players, drifts past them with ease, comes inside on the left foot and wrong-foots the goalkeeper. It’s a clever finish. Everything good about Norwich, he was an integral part of that. His passing was superb.
“Did his bit defensively with his positioning, he could smell where the trouble is. What a pass to Pukki to run in behind and that’s where they get the penalty and [Pukki] sticks it away. [Normann] drove forward with the ball dragging his team yards up the pitch.”
Kieran Dowell
Kieran Dowell joined Norwich from Everton before their Championship title-winning term in July 2020. His deal came alongside signing Jordan Hugill and loaning in Oliver Skipp, Ben Gibson and Xavier Quintilla for a combined £6m, with the individual fee paid not reported.
The attacking midfielder never got a chance to show his worth in the top-flight whilst with the Toffees. Of his mere five senior games, just two came in the Premier League during the 2015/16 campaign. Yet Dowell has featured in 14 and started six for Norwich this season.
Smith has afforded the 24-year-old two of his starts during the Canaries’ last two matches with Burnley and Manchester United. Dowell rewarded the faith by scoring and assisting in their 3-2 loss at Old Trafford, heading their first before assisting Pukki with a long diagonal.
Dowell was calm to beat David de Gea, and punished Manchester United for affording him plenty of space throughout. He started the clash on the right-flank, and will be one option Howe will have to account for in his team selection when Newcastle travel to Norwich.
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