Norwich City want a reliable goalscorer, but they have been warned by a former Canary that now is not the time to cash in on one of their hotshots.
Britain Soccer Football – Ipswich Town v Norwich City – Sky Bet Championship – Portman Road – 21/8/16 Norwich City’s Cameron Jerome scores their first goal
The Norwich Evening News has reported that the future of Cameron Jerome is under consideration in East Anglia, as both Middlesbrough and Sunderland have been linked with the striker.
However, Iwan Roberts, a former hero at Carrow Road, has come out with some strong comments in defence of the frontman. “Cam didn’t score in the Premier League but he’s a proven goalscorer at Championship level, he proved it again last season,” Roberts told the Norwich Evening News.
“We don’t know what Farke’s going to do yet, but I would try and keep Cameroon because he is a 20-goal striker if he plays regularly,” added the former Welsh striker.
Jerome had a decent season in the Championship finishing sixth highest scorer in the division. He scored 16 times for Norwich in 2016/17, but that only tells half the story. A total of 14 of those goals came in open play and five were one-on-one chances. He only hit the woodwork twice, but the big stat is the 14 big chances missed in his 32 games. Is that good enough or should Norwich be looking for a more clinical finisher?
Norwich’s Cameron Jerome and Bristol City’s Hordur Magnusson in action
There are not too many strikers that have done better than Jerome in the Championship. Of those that did, two of those strikers are now in the Premier League, and there is lots of interest in Chris Woods, Tammy Abraham, Jonathan Kodjia, while Yann Kermorgant is reported by Get Reading to only be playing one more season. Replacing Jerome will be costly, you can count on it.
Norwich City’s Cameron Jerome and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matt Doherty (L) and Danny Batth in action
It may depend on how much either Middlesbrough or Sunderland would be willing to offer for the 30-year-old. SportsMole suggests a figure of £8 million if Boro bid for him. Sunderland who have also been strongly linked with the player, according to the Mirror, may not make a move until their managerial vacancy is filled, but they need a replacement for Jermain Defoe who is set to join AFC Bournemouth.
In the meantime, while Norwich wait for any bids, they should be looking at the younger strikers around who just might be the answer, even if it is a loan deal – perhaps Arsenal’s Chuba Akpom – who was on loan at Brighton last season and who may be available.
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