Technically speaking, Norwich City have not been relegated just yet.
But even the most glass-half full supporter would be forgiven for checking out the Preston branch of Premier Inn with a return to the Championship feeling less like a case of ‘if’ and more ‘when’.
At least, in Dean Smith, Norwich have a manager with an impressive track record in England’s second tier. His reputation as a committed developer of exciting young talent – Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Rico Henry all made great strides under Smith at Brentford – would certainly stand Norwich in good stead too.
Especially with reports suggesting they could make good use of the loan market.
Incomings and outgoings?
Keinan Davis was a regular under Smith during Aston Villa’s 2018/19 promotion campaign. The West Bromwich-born tactician described Davis as an ‘exceptional’ talent. And he’s certainly living up to that billing on loan at Nottingham Forest.
The powerhouse centre-forward is finally adding a ruthless streak to his game, although a reunion with Smith at Carrow Road could be ki-boshed if Davis fires Forest to promotion.
No team in the league has picked up more points than Forest since Davis’ January debut.
According to The Sun, Sunderland’s Ross Stewart is another centre-forward on Norwich’s radar.
Like Davis, he is a physical number nine capable of bringing his team-mates into play and pressing hard from the front. It’s not hard to imagine Stewart, who’s scored 22 goals this term, dovetailing with the likes of Milot Rashica and Callum O’Hare at Norwich, a la Dan Neil and Elliot Embleton at Sunderland.
An East Anglian reunion?
O’Hare, another who played under Smith at Villa, has been a revelation at coupon-busting Coventry. He was linked with a move to Norwich this week.
As was Chelsea’s Wales international Ethan Ampadu (TEAMtalk). It remains to be seen, however, if Billy Gilmour’s lack of progress in green and yellow puts Chelsea off sending another of their rising stars to East Anglia.
Of all the players currently in Smith’s squad, Max Aarons is perhaps the most likely to depart. According to The Sun, the jet-heeled right-back is a target for Arsenal.
The two-footed Brandon Williams could fill his boots, however. The England U21 ace admits that he has little interest in returning to Manchester United unless he’s going to play regular first-team football (Mail).
On the left, the experienced Marvin Zeegelaar could be an upgrade on Dimitris Giannoulis and Sam Byram (TMW). Norwich also triggered extension clauses in the contracts of Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki on Wednesday. The free-scoring Finn is practically a Championship cheat-code.
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In Tim Krul, Grant Hanley, Ben Gibson, Kenny McLean, Cantwell and Pukki, Smith retains the spine of an excellent second-tier side.
Milot Rashica, one of the Bundesliga’s most feared attackers in 2019/20, should also find goals and assists easier to come by at this level.
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