The costs involved could make signing Real Betis midfielder William Carvalho a very difficult task for Premier League strugglers Norwich City, according to Spanish publication AS.
It’s hard to know what to make of Norwich’s start to the season.
Yes, their defence collapsed quicker than a home-made souffle during 3-0 and 5-0 defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City.
But the Canaries should not be written off on the back of two punishing encounters against arguably the best sides in the country.
It is games against the likes of Newcastle United, Burnley and Watford that will define Norwich’s season – not trips to the Etihad.
Either way, if Daniel Farke’s side are to avoid a repeat of that disastrous 2019/20 season, then signing a powerhouse defensive midfielder – one capable of breaking up opposition attacks before starting those of his own – is an absolute necessity.
Chelsea loanee Billy Gilmour is more a dictator than a destroyer after all.
So William Carvalho, the 6ft 2ins, 64-cap Portugal international, looks every inch like the missing piece in Farke’s jigsaw, a man who should supplement the silk of Gilmour, Todd Cantwell and Pierre Lees-Melou with some much-needed steel.
Is William Carvalho Norwich City’s missing link?
According to Sky Sports, talks between Norwich and Carvalho are underway.
AS believe that striking an agreement will be ‘difficult’, however.
It is understood that the Euro 2016 champion earns £40,000-a-week at Real Betis and is valued at £18 million – fees that stopped West Brom signing the towering number six in January.
Norwich do appear to have learned from the mistakes of 2019, however, investing over £50 million into a squad which cruised to the Championship title last season.
The Anglian outfit were also willing to pay a club-record £15 million for FC Rostov’s Mathias Normann before the Norwegian got cold feet about a potential switch to Carrow Road.
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