Why Norwich City must exercise patience over transfers

As documented in the decision to change head coach from David Wagner to Johannes Hoff Thorup or the recruitment to bring Jose Cordoba to the club from Bulgarian side Levski Sofia, the City chief is not one for kneejerk or reactive decisions. 

Knapper has deployed a methodical and calm approach to navigating sometimes choppy waters. That clear strategic plan has been adhered to at every juncture thus far, which explains why, with 17 days to go until the Championship season kicks off at Oxford United, Norwich have only made one summer addition. 

Nothing is done at Norwich without clear calculation. After much criticism, few could argue there is a lack of plan at Carrow Road now. That is why patience is a virtue when it comes to recruitment this summer. 

That sentiment is particularly true of their loan pursuit of highly-rated Manchester City defender Callum Doyle, no matter how frustrating the current wait nor the potential risk of it being hijacked. 

Doyle has travelled to the USA with Pep Guardiola's side owing to the vast amount of defensive options away from the club after competing in the European Championships, meaning the Premier League champions have been forced to rely on numerous younger options to fill their quota. 

That has put the move for Doyle to join Thorup's squad on pause. Norwich have positioned themselves at the front of a queue of several Championship clubs who were vying for his signature. 

Of course, there is a risk that a top-flight side puts solid cash on the table for Doyle and then any deal is off. But that threat is always alive in transfer situations. Until a deal is closed, there is always a doubt over whether it will be completed. 

Doyle wants to move to Norwich. He's visited Colney, so now it's a waiting game. Given the uniqueness of their left-back search due to Thorup's tactics, it makes sense to wait. 

The youngster played a similar role for Enzo Maresca during Leicester's Championship success last term. Despite being recorded as the left back on the teamsheet, Doyle would be more of a third central defender in possession for City, as he was for the Foxes. That previous experience means there would be less of a need for information building over pre-season. 

That specificity in roles and responsibilities on the pitch means that Norwich need to recruit players who will fit into it. Add in a willingness to sign younger players, and it makes for a more limited market. 

Ben Knapper is willing to be patient in Norwich City's pursuit of new signings this summer. (Image: Denise Bradley/Newsquest)

Whilst City await the time when Doyle is released by his parent club, they continue to pursue a secondary option and hope to sign replacements for both Dimi Giannoulis and Sam McCallum this summer.

Portugal is fertile ground for that particular search. Both Francisco Moura and Leonardo Lelo are admired, but not at the numbers both would command currently.

But after plenty of criticism of their recruitment and decisions taken that have proven difficult to untangle over multiple seasons and some decisions they are still paying the price for, it is right that the bar applied to any potential incoming is high. As Thorup said, it is better to get the right signing than the quickest one. 

In the meantime, whilst plates continue to spin in the background, Thorup is continuing to assess different options within his squad. Guilherme Montoia has enjoyed a decent start to pre-season and Kellen Fisher has also been trialled in that spot. 

Those who matter understand the need for a new addition to that position as soon as possible. Ideally, they would have wanted that yesterday. But it's a complex market, and Norwich's financial position means creativity is necessary. 

If Norwich have to kickstart their Championship campaign with one of those younger options in that position rather than a new addition, then so be it. The most important outcome is that the best possible player is attracted to the club, which often means playing the long game. 

Take Cordoba as an example—he was strongly wanted by Rangers. At one point, even those inside the club thought he was heading to Glasgow. But they stuck in the conversation, kept working, and got it over the line. 

Jose Cordoba is the only senior arrival to walk through the door this summer. (Image: Levski Sofia FC)

There are natural reasons why new signings have been limited to Cordoba so far. This has been a slower-than-normal market. Many inside the game are predicting it will likely light up in the second half of August. 

Throw in Norwich's delicate financial situation and the need to make at least one major sale this summer, and it begins to paint a clear picture. Strategy is one thing, but windows can rarely be choreographed. Instead, it's about scenario planning for every circumstance. 

Ultimately, judgement can only come at the end of the window. Norwich have so far opted to refresh their squad by hiring a new coach seeking to adopt a fresh approach whilst welcoming back younger players like Abu Kamara and Brad Hills who enjoyed fruitful loan spells away last season. 

Guilherme Montoia remains City's only current left back option. (Image: Adam Harvey/Newsquest)

As the window grows older, Norwich will add and trim its squad accordingly. Players will leave, opening spots for new additions—windows have a push-and-pull nature to them. One action causes another, and then several dominos fall. There is no need for panic at this stage.

Norwich is just waiting for that first gust of wind to set them on their way, but internally, there is calmness about their current position. 

It has been a summer window that has yet to ignite, but there is a feeling that the spark isn't far away.