It is no secret that Norwich City are in the market to add a new left-back to their first-team squad before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.
Philippe Clement has already confirmed that it is an area that the club have been looking at since the end of last season, as Jeffrey Schlupp was released.
Some supporters have been left feeling that the search for a new option in that position is dragging on too long, though, and the three-month injury lay-off for Lucien Mahovo is certainly playing into that.
Why Norwich have to sign a new left-back
Bringing in a left-back before the deadline should be a non-negotiable, because of how many issues a lack of available left-backs caused for the team last term.
Playing a right-footed player on that side, often Kellen Fisher and sometimes Liam Gibbs, meant that there was a lack of progression and overlapping play on the left side, congesting play on the right side of the pitch.
Vatan Ozcan has been involved throughout pre-season and has been pushed forward by some fans as a potential solution to the problem, but the Turkish defender is still incredibly young and has shown his inexperience in flashes in pre-season.
A mistimed dart out of position against Colchester led to a one-on-one that Dan Grimshaw did well to save, and if that mistake happened and was punished in a competitive match, the young full-back would quickly come under fire.
He needs to be protected so that his development will continue at the pace that it needs to go at, whether that means U21 football or a loan to the lower leagues or abroad this summer.
One potential signing that has been mentioned is Manchester United left-back Harry Amass, who is reportedly available for a fee of £6m.
The Pink Un have reported that, whilst the Canaries have an interest in the 19-year-old, the club are unlikely to splash out a fee of £6m to bring the England U19 international to Carrow Road in the coming weeks.
Why Norwich may not want to pay £6m for Harry Amass
It is fair to say that some sections of the fanbase have not reacted favourably to the news that Ben Knapper is not jumping at the chance to pay that amount of money to sign Amass permanently.
Given that he is a Premier League talent from Manchester United’s academy and caught the eye on loan in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday, it is understandable as to why so many want to see him return.
However, the club have a duty to make the right decision for the team in both the immediate and the long-term future, which may be why they are reluctant to spend £6m on Amass.
The teenage left-back, who played on the right wing off the bench against Coventry in his only Norwich outing last season, would become one of three permanent left-backs between the ages of 19 and 22 at Carrow Road if he signed permanently.
Throw in that Ozcan is 18 and may be viewed as a future first-team player and it is easy to foresee a future problem with having so many players at similar ages in the same position on long-term contracts.
That is why it may make sense for the club to lean more towards an experienced permanent signing, whether that is a veteran who can support the younger players or a prime-aged star who could make way for the younger players coming through in two or three years.
To loan or not to loan…
The alternative to that is that Norwich go down the loan route and aim to find a stop-gap in the hope that they can finally resolve the issues that Chrisene and Mahovo have had with injuries in the next 12 months.
Bringing in a Premier League loanee could ensure that the Canaries have a natural left-back option to compete for a place in the short-term, without blocking any pathways for their young prospects in the mid-to-long-term.
It may not be an explanation that supporters want, as everything is always about the here and now and what will help Norwich against West Brom in a couple of weeks, but it is a valid one that makes sense for those in power at Carrow Road.
