The international break is a good time to reflect on the season so far and also to look ahead to the future.
Whilst there is a gap in the fixture list, Norwich boss Alex Neil should, in theory, have more time to assess the needs of his squad and identify any players they’d like to bring in to solve the current issues.
A wise January strategy can be to look at the players whose contracts are about to expire in the summer and look to tie them down with an early agreement.
Plenty of teams have done that in the past and have got themselves a high-quality player for free, many of whom have immediately made an impact.
Norwich are allowed to speak to any player who is playing abroad if their contract expires in the summer and there are plenty of good ones out there.
Here are some of the players we think they should be trying to tie down in January:
Vladislav Stoyanov
Only two teams in the whole division have conceded more goals than Norwich so we’ll focus on improving that first!
A divisive topic at Norwich at the moment is the goalkeeper situation, with many fans thinking both Michael McGovern and John Ruddy are not good enough.
Vladislav Stoyanov is a Bulgarian international and has been playing Champions League football for Ludogorets this year. He could be a decent option for Alex Neil.
Ruslan Kambolov
Ruslan Kambolov is a 26-year-old centre back who is currently out with a knee injury. He’s on the books of Rubin Kazan and would likely be interested in a move to England. If his knee recovers well, as expected, he could be a very good addition at the back.
Alexandru Epureanu
Basaksehir are the surprise package in Turkey this year. They sit on top of the Super Liga, having only conceded six goals in 10 games. Moldovan centre-back Alexandru Epureanu has been a major part of their tight defence and at age 30, he could provide a good, short-term option.
Perparim Hetemaj
Perparim Hetemaj is a defensive minded midfielder who is currently playing in Italy for Chievo. The Finnish international would be a good option but he’d probably want to play in the top flight. Norwich would have to persuade him that they’re good enough to get promotion in order for him to sign.
Moussa Konate
If Neil is looking to bring in a striker, FC Sion’s Moussa Konate could be an option. The 23-year-old is already a Senegalese international and had six goals and two assists in 16 games for the Swiss side this season.
Ishak Belfodil
Another possible forward option is Algerian international Ishak Belfodil. The 6’3″ striker offers a physical presence as well as a goal threat. He has six goals in 13 games this season.