Transfer rumours are a massive part of football, whether people like them or not. They are there to spice up transfer windows, inflate player prices and inform fans.
Over the last few years, Norwich have had many players slip through their fingers as they attempt to strengthen their squad.
Norwich have had bids accepted for players and the players have rejected and there have been players that have been linked to the club for years but a move has never materialised.
Players are always angling for bigger moves and more money, as is the way with football now, and sometimes that leaves clubs in limbo. They don’t know if the player is looking around the facilities to entice more buyers or because they are actually interested in a move.
In this ‘almost signed XI’ I have used players who have rejected the club, been linked multiple times to the club and players who were on loan but never signed permanently.
Fraser Forster
Forster was on loan to the club in League One when Norwich won the title but Norwich were unable to sign him as Newcastle sold him to Celtic instead. Norwich were unable to match the fee Newcastle wanted at the time.
Kyle Naughton
Naughton was on loan at Norwich in the 2011/12 season from Tottenham and was very impressive. Norwich, however, were unable to sign him from Spurs on a permanent basis.
Toby Alderweireld
It is almost common-knowledge this one. Norwich had a fee agreed with Ajax for Alderweireld back in 2012 but the player rejected Norwich to hold out for a better offer.
Andrea Ranocchia
Ranocchia was one in the most recent window in January. Norwich were thought to have agreed a deal to sign the defender but he rejected the club to stay in Italy.
Kalidou Koulibaly
Norwich had this deal all ready to go and done on deadline day last summer but Napoli’s failure to sign a replacement meant the deal fell through. Norwich had agreed the fee and the player was ready to join but Napoli couldn’t get their end finished.
Lucas Biglia
Norwich had agreed a loan deal with Biglia’s former team Anderletch back in 2012 but Biglia decided not to join the Canaries, despite the deal being almost done.
Craig Noone
Noone is one who has been linked to Norwich in almost every transfer window over the last few years but a move has never surfaced.
Nathan Dyer
I wouldn’t say we were close to signing him or have been but I needed to fill this slot. Dyer has been linked to the club more than once and could be considered in this category.
Ross McCormack
McCormack one of the number of Leeds players that was linked to Norwich but never made the move to Carrow Road like a number of his ex-teammates.
Jordan Rhodes
Norwich seem to be linked with a move to Jordan Rhodes every transfer window. It has been going on for the past five years or so now but nothing concrete has ever happened.
Sebastien Haller
Haller reportedly came to Colney to look around and then rejected the terms on the table. Fee was agreed but Norwich couldn’t get it over the line.