Max Aarons has emerged as a contender for the right-back slot at Norwich City.
Max Aarons’ breakthrough to the first-team at Norwich City could signal the end for Portuguese right-back Ivo Pinto, who sees his contract at Carrow Road up for expiration at the end of the season.
Pinto joined Norwich from Dinamo Zagreb in January 2016 for a fee around £2.2 million (Eastern Daily Press), with then-manager Alex Neil looking to bolster his side’s Premier League survival chances.
The 28-year-old went on to make 10 top-flight appearances that season, and stuck around to make another 68 Championship outings over the past two seasons following the club’s relegation to the second tier.
Current manager Daniel Farke kept faith in Pinto when taking over the Norwich reigns from Neil, but now it seems he has become third choice following the arrival of Ben Marshall and the breakthrough of Aarons.
Marshall joined Norwich in the summer and, while predominantly an attack-minded player, he has featured three times at right-back for the Canaries so far this season.
But it was Aarons who was selected for the recent East Anglian derby with Ipswich Town, with the 18-year-old making his first start for the Norfolk club and impressing in difficult circumstances.
The talented youngster has since been called up to the England U19 squad and started in their recent 2-1 victory against Belgium, making it a week to remember.
With Aarons signing his first professional contract in the summer, it seems Norwich see his long-term future at Carrow Road and, in the meantime, he adds valuable competition for places in the squad.
As for Pinto, though, with his contract due to expire next summer and him now having two players ahead of him in the pecking order, it is likely this could be his last season at the club.
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