- The problems that have faced Mathias Kvistgaarden this season.
- A summer exit from Carrow Road should not be ruled out for the striker.
- Three players who could be targeted by Ben Knapper.
Norwich City striker Mathias Kvistgaarden failed to score for the eighth game running in the 2-1 win over Millwall on Monday.
The Danish striker had a huge opportunity to open the scoring in the first half when Anis Ben Slimane threaded a ball through to him, but he was too slow to get enough power on his shot.
A fee of £6.9m was paid to sign the Dane from Brondby last summer, and he has only scored six goals in 31 Championship games so far.
The 23-year-old attacker’s struggles are not all of his own doing, though, because he was signed to play in a front two with Josh Sargent in Liam Manning’s system.
Why Kvistgaarden may be sold this summer
There could be a big decision to be made on Kvistgaarden’s future in the summer transfer window because he does not look suited to the way that Philippe Clement wants to play.
Last month, Emiliano Marcondes stated in an interview that the Belgian head coach “Likes big and strong attackers who run deep”, and that does not fit Kvistgaarden’s profile.
Jovon Makama and Mohamed Toure are closer to what Clement likes, as is the currently injured Ante Crnac, which means that the Dane may struggle for game time next season if those three are fit and available more often than not.
Kvistgaarden has the technical and finishing qualities to excel in a less physical league, as evidenced by his 23 goals for Brondby last year, and sitting on the Norwich bench every week would be a waste of his talent.
Now, if the Canaries opt to cash in on the £6.9m forward, here are three possible replacements that could be brought in by Ben Knapper…
Kasper Høgh
Norwich’s pursuit of a deal to sign Kasper Høgh from Bodo/Glimt was well-documented in the January transfer window, as they made a £7m offer for the Dane.
In typical Norwich fashion, though, the 25-year-old marksman then scored twice against Manchester City, once against Atletico Madrid, once against Inter, and one against Sporting in the Champions League.
His form on the European stage ended the club’s hopes of signing him in January, but it will be interesting to see whether or not they reignite that interest in the summer if Kvistgaarden moves on.
Lorent Tolaj
Norwich hit the jackpot when they raided League One side Lincoln City for Jovon Makama last summer, and they could do the same with Lorent Tolaj at Plymouth Argyle.
The Swiss marksman has scored 15 goals and provided five assists in 28 appearances in League One this season, showing that he has the potential to make the step up to the Championship as a goalscorer.
What makes him an interesting candidate to come in and replace Kvistgaarden, though, is the physicality that he brings in the centre-forward position.
Tolaj ranks in the top 18% of League One strikers for aerial duels won (69) and the top 6% for aerial duel success rate (52%), which suggests that he has the physical presence that Clement wants from his strikers.
At the age of 24, the Plymouth star also fits in with the Norwich identity of signing players with potential and time left ahead of them to improve and develop.
Tawanda Maswanhise
The third and final possible replacement for Kvistgaarden is Motherwell centre-forward Tawanda Maswanhise.
Unlike Tolaj and Høgh, the Zimbabwe international can comfortably play in multiple positions across the frontline, as he has excelled as a striker and as a right winger.
In the 2025/26 season, Maswanhise has scored six goals in 14 starts as a right winger and 15 goals in 20 starts as a number nine for the Scottish side, showing that he can be effective in front of goal in both roles.
He is not a 6 foot 4 striker who is going to win three or four aerial duels a game, but the former Leicester academy talent is a powerful runner and has the upper body strength to hold defenders off when in scoring positions.
Maswanhise may be the best option out of the three for Norwich because he has the goalscoring pedigree to add more firepower to the squad, the physicality that Kvistgaarden lacks, and would provide depth in multiple positions of need.
