With the January transfer window drawing to a close, Norwich City fans are split on their club’s business this month.
General view of Norwich City’s Carrow Road ground
With the January transfer window nearing it’s end, it looks to have been yet another crazy and unpredictable month, with clubs spending big money both in the Premier League and in the Championship. Like every transfer window, club’s can find it difficult to find a good deal, and the inflation in the prices of many players has, at times, gotten teams into trouble with Financial Fair Play. Norwich City however, are not one of these teams.
Run by the former Labour Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, Norwich City are perhaps a rare example of a financially well run club; not known for over-spending or panic buying, often investing in exciting young talent. Their relegation to the Championship didn’t indicate a change in transfer policy, and so in the summer, Alex Neil was handed an impressive transfer kitty once again, with the added bonus of relegation parachute payments.
Norwich manager Alex Neil
In the summer, Norwich City worked hard to bring in players, being careful not to unbalance an already talented squad, but to add enough quality in the areas that needing improving. Players such as Sergi Canos, Micheal McGovern, Alex Pritchard and Nelson Oliveira, looked like good improvements and left Norwich City fans feeling positive at the start of the season.
Nelson Oliveira of Norwich City
But Norwich’s start to the season was shaky at best. Not only were some of the club’s previous January signings looking shaky, such as Steven Naismith, but many of the club’s summer signings were failing to make an impact. Sergi Canos was struggling to impress, and Oliveira’s goals were not flowing as Norwich fans might have liked. Was Norwich’s summer recruitment to blame? Or the manager?
Former Brentford midfielder Sergi Canos
So how have Norwich City approached this January window? Despite the departure of Martin Olsson to Swansea City, Norwich City have so far kept hold of much of their under-performing side. However, reports suggest that Robbie Brady could leave for Burnley, meaning the Canaries will be left significantly weakened down the left-hand side.
The club are yet to bring in any players, but it has been reported by The Mirror that the Canaries are close to securing a £7 million deal for Wigan’s Yanic Wildschut, a player who has so far only played half a season of regular Championship football.
Norwich’s Robbie Brady
Will Wildschut improve the Canaries? Is he better than Pritchard in that wide area? These questions are yet to be answered, but this potential transfer does suggest one thing: a change in Norwich’s recruitment policy.
Spending big fees, like the £7 million quoted for Wildschut, isn’t something Norwich City fans see too often, especially on a fairly unproven player at this level. Are Norwich City fans happy with this change?
One thing is for sure; if Wildschut adds the direct running and goals Norwich needs to push for promotion, the money being spent will mean nothing when compared to the riches of the Premier League.
Wigan’s Yanic Wildschut
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