Rangers have been linked with a move for Norwich City striker Steven Naismith.
Norwich’s Steven Naismith in action with Brighton’s Tomer Hemed
Norwich City’s mass exodus may yet continue even after releasing seven players this week, with attacker Steven Naismith potentially on the way out of Carrow Road too.
The Canaries confirmed earlier this week that John Ruddy, Steven Whittaker, Sebastien Bassong, Ryan Bennett, Michael Turner, Youssouf Mulumbu and Kyle Lafferty will leave the club at the end of the season when their contracts end ahead of a summer of change.
With new sporting director Stuart Webber appointed and a new manager set to arrive over the summer, Norwich are embracing a revolution – and more departures could be coming in the near future.
The Scottish Sun reported earlier this week that Norwich are considering releasing Steven Naismith from his contract in order to get his £50,000-a-week wages off their bill, with the Scottish international something of a disappointment.
The 30-year-old joined Norwich from Everton in January 2016, and whilst he arrived with a strong reputation, he has contributed just five goals and three assists in the Championship this season, leading Norwich to consider his future.
Steven Naismith celebrates scoring for Rangers against Celtic
Naismith would be open to re-joining Rangers according to The Express, having hit 33 goals in 140 games for the club in a five-year spell at Ibrox. Naismith’s 2012 exit was a source of controversy, given that he refused to transfer his contract to the ‘new’ Rangers side following their liquidation, and instead joined Everton on a free transfer.
Some Rangers fans aren’t keen on such a deal, given Naismith’s acrimonious exit, and Norwich fans have been having their say on the situation surrounding the Scotland international’s future in East Anglia.
Norwich City’s Steven Naismith (R) celebrates scoring with Jonny Howson
Norwich fans have taken to Twitter to suggest that they would support Naismith’s exit, possibly to Rangers, with his expected summer departure another sign of the club’s failed transfer policy in recent years.
Others believe that Naismith is worth keeping due to his experience and leadership, or at the very least they should be looking to sell him rather than releasing him from his contract, suggesting that letting him go for nothing whilst paying up his contract would be ‘madness’.
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