With Jacob Murphy reportedly edging closer to a move to Newcastle United, it is the time that Norwich City started to look at possible replacements for the winger. The 22-year-old had a superb season last time out for the Canaries as he scored eight goals and created 39 chances in the 35 appearances he made.
Norwich do have other options in wide positions such as Matt Jarvis and Alex Pritchard, but they will still need to fill the void that will be left by Murphy’s departure. The England Under 21 international is a quick, skilful wide player with the ability to both create and find the back of the net himself. That is why it is important that Daniel Farke looks to replace the winger this summer.
Sebastian Larsson
With Norwich having ambitions of returning to the top flight in the near future, what better way would there to be to replace Murphy than with a player with a host of Premier League experience?
At 32-years-old, the Sweden international is indeed approaching the latter stages of his career but could still do a job in the second tier.
His experience could be a real asset to the Canaries next season, and he could pass on his knowledge to the club’s younger players. Larsson has played his football in England throughout his entire career and therefore would have no trouble adjusting to life in The Championship.
He only made 21 appearances for Sunderland in the league last year as they were relegated from the top flight. He has since been released by the club and will be eager for a fresh challenge, and a move to Carrow Road may be the perfect destination.
Jota – Brentford
If Daniel Farke fancied more of an ambitious move, then there would be no better option than Brentford’s in-demand winger Jota.
The Spaniard was one of the stand-out players in The Championship last season, despite only joining the Bees on loan for the second half of the season. He made 21 appearances and picked up five assists while also creating a further 24 chances.
However, luring Jota to Carrow Road would prove a difficult task. He has attracted a significant amount of interest from the Premier League with the likes of Newcastle United and West Ham United interested in securing his signature.
Max Gradel – Bournemouth
The 29-year-old Bournemouth winger would be an ideal replacement for Murphy. He has very similar traits and now has Premier League experience to go with it.
His time at Dean Court has been hindered by injury following his £7 million move from Saint-Étienne. He tore a cruciate ligament in his knee shortly after making a move and this has resulted in him struggling to make an impact since.
He has only made 23 appearances for the club during a two-year spell, scoring just once. He now looks set for a move away.
However, Norwich would have to move fast if they wanted to snap up the Ivory Coast international. He is reportedly set for a move back to France to join Nantes or Toulouse and has also attracted interest from Sunderland.
Ross Wallace – Sheffield Wednesday
The 32-year-old Sheffield Wednesday winger has often gone under the radar at Hillsborough in recent years despite being a key part of their recent success.
Wednesday missed out on a place in the top flight in the playoffs once again last season, but Wallace enjoyed another superb season on a personal level. He made 42 appearances in which he scored five goals and created a whopping 71 chances for his teammates.
He has a wand of a left foot and would be an asset to any Championship team. Despite this, there has been speculation about his future, especially due to the recent arrival of George Boyd.
However, he has stated that he is ready to fight for his first team place with the Owls, meaning it is likely to take a significant bid from Norwich in order to persuade the Wednesday hierarchy to do business.
Shaun Maloney – Hull City
Similarly, to Larsson, the 34-year-old has a host of experience in both the Premier League and at international level with Scotland.
A move for Maloney would be a gamble after his proposed move to Aberdeen recently stalled due to him flagging up an injury concern.
However, if he can regain his fitness in the next few weeks, Norwich should consider having a look at him as he is available on a free transfer following his departure from Hull City. He has proven his quality in the past in the top flight with the likes of Aston Villa, Wigan Athletic and most recently Hull.
He may not have the pace of Murphy, but if Farke fancies signing a winger with experience and the ability to change a game in a single moment, then Maloney might be worth considering.
Hmmmmmm, maybe his identical twin could be a better replacement.
Norwich will only sanction Murphy sale if their price is met and right now it looks like Newcastle won’t pay that, rumour has it that Norwich are demanding 12m + 4m in add ons, so I suspect Jacob will remain a Norwich player.
If he was sold we already have a ready made replacement his twin brother Josh who is equally as good, indeed towards end of last season he was picked ahead of Jacob when his form dropped off.
The only player Norwich would be remotely interested in would be Jota, and it’s likely he will only be allowed to go to a premier league club. The other 4 are all on the decline and there is no way Norwich will be buying players that are looking for one last payday.