Norwich City’s left-sided defensive search has taken another turn, with Luke Graham now set to join Stoke City from Dundee.
Yahoo Sports reports that the 22-year-old centre-back is heading for a medical ahead of a deal worth around £2m including add-ons.
Graham had been linked with Norwich earlier in the window, but Stoke now appear to have moved to the front of the queue.
That does not leave Norwich exposed on its own. It does, however, show how quickly the market is moving for young, left-footed centre-backs.
Norwich Must Keep Defensive List Moving
Philippe Clement and Ben Knapper still need balance in defence before the Championship season begins.
Read Norwich previously assessed what Norwich’s reported interest in Graham could mean for Jakov Medic, with the Canaries looking for a left-sided option to compete with Jose Cordoba.
Graham fitted that profile. He is young, left-footed, physically strong and already tested in senior football with Dundee.
Read Norwich noted in May that the defender had played 36 Premiership matches last season, winning 70.3% of his aerial duels and averaging 2.45 progressive passes per 90.
The72 reports that Stoke are now poised to beat Portsmouth and Rangers to Graham, with the Potters preparing to add him to Mark Robins’ squad.
For Norwich, the lesson is simple enough.
If Graham was a serious target, the Canaries now need to move quickly to the next live option. A promotion-level squad needs defensive depth, especially after a season in which availability repeatedly shaped selection.
Clement does not need Norwich to win every race. He does need the club to avoid letting one missed target slow the whole department.
Graham appears to be heading to Stoke. Norwich’s left-sided centre-back search cannot pause with him.
