It’s been a quick return to the Premier League for Daniel Farke and his Norwich City side, following a disappointing 19/20 Premier League season in which they only managed 5 wins.
In the EFL Championship, they never looked in trouble, having been top of the table since the 11th matchweek, never relinquishing the top spot.
However, a look into their squad demonstrates the same squad that had gotten relegated just a season ago.
Jamal Lewis, Emiliano Buendia, Alexander Tettey, Vrancic and Ben Godfrey are all gone. Nonetheless, aside from Rashica, no proven talent has been added to help bolster the squad.
Here we take a look at 5 players who could help aid Norwich City’s survival hopes on a tight budget.
Billy Gilmour – Chelsea
If there was one bright spark for Scotland during this Euro campaign, it was the emergence of Billy Gilmour in the center of the park.
The young Scottish International looked far older than his age completing 91% of his passes against England, and in the process, helping Scotland to their only point in the tournament.
With Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, Kante, Mount, and Havertz all ahead of him in the pecking order chances will be rare for Gilmour at Stamford Bridge.
Alexander Tettey and Mario Vrancic have been released from the club, leaving the Canaries short in options in midfield. A loan to the North-East of London would certainly benefit both sides.
Glen Kamara – Rangers
A key reason to Rangers ending Celtic’s dominance in the Scottish Premiership was Glen Kamara’s partnership with Joe Aribo in the middle of the field.
If there were any doubts that Kamara was just a good player in the Scottish First Division, this Euro campaign helped silenced those doubts.
Kamara averaged 1.3 tackles and 3.5 interceptions in his 3 appearances for Finland while maintaining a 88% successful pass completion rate.
At 25 years of age, Glen Kamara’s best years are ahead of him, and although he won’t come cheap, he would certainly be an upgrade to both Stiepermann and McClean.
Daniel Sturridge – Free agent
A major reason for Norwich City’s relegation from the Premier League two seasons ago was not having a reliable backup to striker Teemu Pukki.
After 6 goals from his first 5 appearances, Pukki found goals hard to come by, scoring 5 more goals in his following 28 appearances.
Norwich City would be smart to add a reliable backup this time around. What better name than Daniel Sturridge. Although he has a history of injuries, Sturridge is barely 31 years of age. During the 19/20 season, with Trabzonspor, he scored 4 goals and assisted 4 in 11 appearances.
Although he has not played a competitive match in over a year, he is currently a free agent. It would certainly be a gamble, but Norwich City could certainly use his experience to aid their survival hopes.
Harvey Elliott – Liverpool
What a breakout season it has been for the young 18-year-old. On loan to Blackburn Rovers from Liverpool, Elliot produced a stellar campaign scoring 7 goals and assisting on another 11 occasions.
In comparison, Todd Cantwell scored 6 goals and only assisted 6 times. At only 18 years of age, Elliott is not afraid to run at defenders, has an astute eye for a pass having completed 1.7 key passes per game, and is an explosive threat in a counter-attack.
Although inexperienced in the Premier League, Elliott would fill the void left by Buendia’s departure to Aston Villa. With Salah, Mane, Jota, Shaqiri, and even Origi ahead of him a move away on loan would help further develop his career.
Vincenzo Grifo was a key reason for SC Freiburg’s surprising 10th-place finish, with 9 goals and 10 assists amounting to 36% of all Freiburg’s goals scored this Bundesliga season.
The Italian International averaged 2.1 key passes per game, 1.4 successful crosses, and a dribble this past season.
Having lost Emiliano Buendia, 15 goals and16 assists, it is obvious to see Norwich City are missing clear-cut game-changers.
And although he missed out on Italy’s final roster, he had recently featured for the Italians in their dominant 7-0 win against San Marino.
He won’t come cheap, however, with Transfermarkt listing his value at $12 million euros.
(All stats gathered from whoscored.com)