Football Season Guide

Norwich City

In


Gabriel Sara (mid) Sao Paulo; Onel Hernandez (mid) Birmingham City - end of loan; Isaac Hayden (mid) Newcastle United - loan; Josip Drmic (att) HNK Rijeka - end of loan; Sam McCallum (def) Queens Park Rangers - end of loan; Jordan Hugill (att) Cardiff City - end of loan; Todd Cantwell (mid) Bournemouth - end of loan; Danel Sinani (att) Huddersfield Town - end of loan; Josh Martin (mid) Doncaster Rovers - end of loan; Rocky Bushiri (def) Hibernian - end of loan; Sebastian Soto (att) Livingston - end of loan; Daniel Barden (gk) Livingston - end of loan; Aston Oxborough (gk) Barnet - end of loan; Akin Famewo (def) Charlton Athletic - end of loan;

Out


Akin Famewo (def) Sheffield Wednesday; Josip Drmic (att) Dinamo Zagreb; Christoph Zimmermann (def) Darmstadt 98; Rocky Bushiri (def) Hibernian; Daniel Adshead (mid) Cheltenham Town; Przemyslaw Placheta (mid) (sp) Birmingham City - loan; Bali Mumba (def) Plymouth Argyle - loan; Lukas Rupp (mid) (sp) Released; Aston Oxborough (gk) Released; Mathias Normann (mid) (r) Rostov - end of loan; Ozan Kabak (def) (sp) Schalke - end of loan; Billy Gilmour (mid) (r) Chelsea - end of loan; Brandon Williams (def) (r) Manchester United - end of loan;

Norwich endured another hugely disappointing Premier League campaign last season and suffered an immediate relegation back to the Championship after a last-placed finish. Daniel Farke was replaced by former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith but, despite a brief sight of revival initially, the Canaries failed to cope with the step up in quality again and recorded just 22 points. The summer has seen many loan players return to their parent clubs, as well as several return to Carrow Road. The likes of Cantwell, Hernandez, McCallum, Hugill and Sinani are good players to have at this level, so their returns will be welcomed. Pukki, Aarons and Rashica have all been retained so far despite relegation, and are excellent squad members to possess at this level. With one of the best managers in the division for this level too, Norwich find themselves in a strong position at the time of writing. Although Norwich have a strong squad in terms of goalscorers at this level, as well as excellent wide options and a solid defence, they appear to be a little light in central midfield. Sara is an intriguing addition from Brazil, and Hayden is an impressive addition from Newcastle, but Smith has few options to choose from in the centre of the pitch.

Target


Reaching the playoffs must be a bare minimum target for Norwich, as it always is in this division. They have become experts in the Championship and, with an excellent squad and manager at this level, promotion will be expected.