Amid the cooling of City’s interest in Celtic defender Kristoffer Ajer, I’ve taken a look at the defensive options Daniel Farke has at his disposal ahead of their return to the Premier League.
It’s worth beginning with the Norwegian centre-half Ajer, in whom City have held a consistent interest throughout the summer, having had a bid in excess of £10m rejected in May.
They now looked to have cooled their interest in light of the Bhoys rejecting a bid of £15m from Premier League new-boys Brentford, and in the process dropping a £20m valuation on the player – enough to put off the Canaries as potential suitors. He now looks set to sign for the Bees, in a deal upwards of £13.5m.
The recruitment team at Colney looks set to be eyeing up the loan market as a viable option when it comes to looking for new centre-half options, with names being linked with moves to Carrow Road earlier this summer including FC Koln’s Sebastiaan Bornauw and Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo. However the former has recently completed a permanent move to Wolfsburg.
That, therefore, leaves us with the options the club has at their disposal currently, with five first-team centre-backs – Grant Hanley, Ben Gibson, Christoph Zimmermann, Andrew Omobamidele and Timm Klose – although Klose looks set to leave the club after three-and-a-half years’ service.
Any immediate transfer movement in the defensive department may be on hold given that 19-year-old Omobamidele has reportedly really impressed at Colney in the early stages of pre-season, and is regarded as being physically ahead of Ben Godfrey at the same age. This comes off the back of a string of really impressive performances towards the back end of the Canaries’ promotion campaign.
In City’s first pre-season fixture – the 3-1 win over Kings Lynn – we saw Farke deploy a three at the back formation, with the ever-reliable Jacob Sorensen slotting in at the right of the three alongside Zimmermann and Omobamidele. This could be an avenue the German may wish to go down, as he has already placed trust in Sorensen before, playing him predominantly at left-back last season.
Hanley and Zimmermann have had their injury troubles in the past, with, ironically, neither of the two playing any real significant role in Farke’s debut Premier League campaign due to those injuries. Gibson has also had a hefty layoff after his season-ending ankle injury in the home fixture against Luton, so will need to build his levels back up in pre-season despite reportedly making good progress with his injury over the summer.
To return briefly to Omobamidele, despite all the positive noise he is generating around the club and with performances to match, it remains vital that not too much pressure is placed on someone so young. If lighting does strike twice, and we again get mired in a central defensive crisis, to ask this young man to form part of the spine of the team at Premier League level, is not an ideal scenario.
City’s other defensive options, in the wider areas, include Max Aarons, Bali Mumba, Sam Byram and Dimitris Giannoulis. In the case of Byram, he desperately needed a good pre-season but has already had another setback in his progress, one that will keep him side lined for another couple of weeks. He proved he was Premier League quality when called upon in 2019-20, so it’s a shame his notorious injury issues have caught up with him once again.
Giannoulis also showed real promise in the second half of last season, with his move from Greek giants PAOK being made permanent on July 1st, alongside Gibson’s arranged permanent transfer from Premier League ever-presents Burnley, and both look set to play prominent roles.
Mumba has had limited minutes in the first team so far, but in that time he proved to be excellent cover and a possible successor to Aarons. Mumba started as the right wing-back at The Walks, playing nearly the full 90 and being full of energy, driving the Canaries up the pitch down the right flank. He also showed he’s not afraid go one against one to try and beat his man, and was successful on multiple occasions.
So, while in the full-back department City appear to be well equipped, if Byram isn’t going to be fit in time for the new season, then, in my opinion, the club needs to be looking for an extra full-back as well as an extra centra-defender.
Let’s not allow history to repeat itself…
Byram might just not be ready at all this season, and if Aarons is sold we will need to get a wriggle on defensively.
Totally agree – unfortunately as much as Zimbo gives 100% and puts his body on the line, I don’t think he’s prem level – never seems totally comfortable on the ball and liable to give away pens
Hi Jack
So many names mentioned for both the CB and RB positions and all prices going north of what city wants to pay.
A name that never gets mentions with city and is available at below what city wants to pay is Carter Vickers at Spurs who at present us available according to Telemarketing at £5m+ add ons.
Last season Woodgate at Bournemouth rated him good enough for any premiership club below 7th as either a RB or CB and is good on the ball.
Some of his other loan clubs have also rated him highly but Spurs had a high valuation on him now they just want some money for him so must be a worth looking at.
Maybe there is something that SW doesn’t like in him we will never know but over the years city have picked up some good talent from Spurs
Totally agree,we need an upgrade on Hanley,Gibson is our best CB with Hanley behind him and Zimbo way below him.We cannot expect a 18 year old to step up in that position in the premier league.As for Sorensen he may be ok in a back three now and then but could be a gamble.The purse strings must be stretched for a quality CB,aswell as another striker and defensive midfielder to give ncfc a fighting chance this season.
Good article Jack.
Webber will not be held to ransom so as you suggest Ajer will not be coming to Carrow Road and we have to wish him good fortune at Brentford, kind of.
My money is on something developing with Forest for Joe Worrell with Jordan Hugill going in the opposite direction. It makes sense anyway – although I nearly always get transfer predictions wrong apart from Billy Gilmour which I heard about quite a while ago from a *semi-reliable source*!
CB is one position where I’d be much happier with a purchase than a loan.
Worrall is a good shout.I do have a feeling that if Aaron’s is not sold then there maybe not much more incoming transfers.:(
Martin, do you think we may see Bushiri or Famewo co-opted into the squad for cover?
I had high hopes we might see Soto put into the mix as a wild card, as an ‘out of the blue’ move it wouldn’t be the first time an unknown has turned out to be a good move would it?
Hawkwind and the Pink Fairies hey? I have good memories of the former at least!
Famewo has gone to Charlton on a loan with option to buy: https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwich-city/canaries-akin-famewo-charlton-athletic-loan-buy-option-8128422
Hi ScotCan,
Of course he has, my forgetfulness, thanks for the reminder! Ah well, another option gone then.
I echo what ScotCan said about Famewo – he’s gone, gone, gone.
Rocky Bushiri? No mate. He’s been on loan in Belgium and apparently didn’t cut the Colmans so another one to go I would presume.
As I write I’m actually wearing a Fairies T – a relic of a bygone age. Their Larry Wallis was Motorhead’s original guitarist until Fast Eddie arrived. Hawkwind were great live but on vinyl – yuck! imo anyway.
Could you imagine trying to produce that lot? Jeez 🙂
Yes, thought I had seen that Bushiri was going back to Belgium on loan again this season. Not heard that he had not made the grade but that is probably the implication given that he is now 21 yo.
Saw Hawkwind a lot live in the early- to mid-80s – a mate was a big fan. Comletely agree they were really good fun live but to sit down and listen to on vinyl, … meh!
Ah well, I’m sure SW will sort the issue out, whether we buy, do a p/x, or find a free agent will be interesting for sure.
Yes, I should imagine a Hawkwind recording session would’ve been interesting – one or two of their gigs included good music though.
Hi Jack,
We are lucky to have Sorensen if there is no appreciable left back cover for Giannoulis – personally believe we should have kept Quintilla unless there is definitely a fitness problem – he has just been picked up by a 2nd tier promotion-pushing Spanish side for 2m Euros.
If Byram is to be regarded as a regular defensive option, we will need an option for the option, although his class when he is fit is undoubted!
This season like no other we have to hit the ground running, as buying to survive could be impossible after Xmas. Perhaps the Worall/Hugill idea is a good one, although we will then need a proven goalscorer to work with Teemu.
Couple more needed then – I still think we have the capacity to finish around 15th, and I do not believe we will go back down this time.
COYY !!
Surely it’s not realistic to have ideal cover in all positions. The best players want to play, it’s not an England set up where all the squad are top notch. Liverpool and others in the Prem suffered from defensive injuries last season, back-up is what it is. I’m happy with what we have tbh. Injuries will happen to all teams.
I’m more concerned about the goal scoring duties.
Ajer is a bullet dodged. Carter-Vickers a good shout, as is Worrall. If we are playing 3 at the back, Klose could still be a back up.
I don’t see anyone paying what we want for Aarons so am quite relaxed about right back. One injury though and we are back to Mumba/Sorensen.
The squad is still looking light across the board so I’m expecting at least 3 more in before 14th August.
How things change. To think that a club like Brentford can outbid us for Ajer.
Does this show how we operate these days. We expect other clubs to pay top dollar for our players, and expect them to grab our offers for players at below market value.