Reports of City’s interest in ex-Manchester United winger Robbie Brady have again surfaced. Norwich are in need of a left sided player having spent most of 2014/15 without one – Johnson usually filled in on that side but he’s in no way the type of player to bomb down the wing and deliver a cross. There is therefore reason to suggest he is top of Alex Neil’s shopping list, as The Mail and The Mirror have reported. The latter have however suggested that Hull City want £10 million for him, which may be out of our price range.
While on the topic of Hull, Dame N’Doye was recently linked with Norwich, but the legitimacy of this rumour looks practically non-existent. The article written by The Mirror talks about how the striker wants £50,000 a week which seems ridiculous on more than one level. Not only did Norwich City have the lowest average wage budget in all of their recent three Premier League seasons, it’s thought that most Norwich players are around the £20,000 mark; this is therefore well out of proportion and almost certainly tabloid rubbish. Equally, why is N’Doye, at the age of 30, having not set the Premier League alight, demanding such high wages?
The Mirror seem to be ever-present when it comes to Norwich City rumours, which is likely telling as to their credibility. Dynamo Kyiv striker Dieumercik Mbokani (yes, try and pronounce that) is suggested to be ‘on the radar’. Belgium paper RTBF have gone a step further and suggested that Norwich have tabled a £4.3 million offer for the striker, and that Dynamo Kyiv are wanting £5.5 million, however other outlets have claimed no bid has yet been made.
Reports from Sky Sports this weekend linked City with Blackburn’s Rudy Gestede. The striker scored 20 goals in 39 appearances and was an impressive player up top. Norwich have regularly been linked with his partner, Jordan Rhodes, but this is the first time Gestede’s name has popped up. Various news outlets have jumped on this rumour, but subsequent reports have suggested that it would require £7 million to lure him away. Such a price seems a step to far for a player lacking in Premier League experience, having been left out of Cardiff’s 2013/14 season after Championship promotion.
South London Today have reported that Norwich are interested in signing Charlton midfielder Jordan Cousins. The Addicks’ academy has recently been gaining a reputation for producing encouraging prospects, with Liverpool signing 19-year old Joe Gomez for a fee of £3.5 million this window. It is thought that various clubs are looking at the 21-year old midfielder – Norwich being one of those.
So that rounds off another weekend of transfer chatter. Whether any of said rumours will materialise is a whole different issue, but certainly some, such as Robbie Brady, seem more likely than others. Take it all with a pinch of salt.
