Graham Dorrans was touted with a move to Carrow Road last month in the transfer window, but when that move fell through it seemed increasingly likely that the West Brom winger would join when the loan window opened. That, it seems, is now the case. Norwich City confirmed on their twitter earlier this evening that Dorrans would link up with the squad when he completes a temporary move on Thursday, making him Alex Neil’s second signing as City boss.
27-year-old Dorrans, who has spent the past seven years at the Hawthorns, was rumoured to be part of an exchange deal with Martin Olsson going the other way but that was scuppered when the window closed on February 2nd and no deal was forthcoming. Allegedly, Olsson failed to agree terms with the Premier League side, but reasoning for Dorrans’ move falling through is not quite as clear.
However, now the attacking midfielder will add quality and experience to an already exceptional midfield, battling for position possibly in the centre of the field or maybe deployed as a winger, with Norwich lacking a real out-and-out left midfielder. Neil was keen to add the Scotsman to his squad and now he has done so, there may be shifts in positions for the likes of Bradley Johnson – who has been quality when filling in on the left – or perhaps through the middle.
Dorrans made 154 appearances for the West Midlands side, scoring 21 goals, after arriving for a fee of a measly £150,000 from Livingston (where Wes Hoolahan and a certain Paul Lambert played once upon a time). He won the Scottish First Division Player of the Year award in his final season at Livingston. In 2010, The Guardian described him as “composed, creative, combative and consistent, Dorrans is easily the best all-round midfielder seen at West Brom since Bryan Robson.” Whilst in the Championship, he reportedly attracted interested from Manchester City and West Ham amongst others.
