Norwich City transfers: Analysis from released and retained

Although there have been transfer influxes in 2023 and 2020, the last proper reset at Carrow Road was Stuart Webber's maiden summer transfer window in 2017.

Out went John Ruddy, Ryan Bennett, Sebastien Bassong, Steven Whittaker and more. In total six players who had been promoted with the Canaries departed, and the statement was clear that this was a new era.

It's no surprise that Webber's successor, the calculated and analytical Ben Knapper, has decided to go in the same direction. With this swathe of exits coming just days after that of head coach David Wagner, there's no doubt that this will be a transitional period in NR1.

What Knapper's done by sanctioning the departures of so many key players is create room for manoeuvre in the market. On the face of it there are clear worries to address; Dimitris Giannoulis and Ben Gibson started almost whenever available last term, and Norwich now have no senior left-backs in the building.

But what that means is that he'll be able to craft the squad the way he wants to, and in truth the way he's been unable to for his first six months in the job.

When Knapper arrived he made no bones about his top priority; a desire to lower the age profile was front and centre in every briefing he did. At a combined age of 59 there's no doubt he'll be able to do that in place of Gibson and Giannoulis, with the exit of 33-year-old Danny Batth also aiding that mission.

It isn't all good news when it comes to the casualties, of course, and Sam McCallum's improving brand of athletic wide play would have been welcome for another season.

His decision not to stay in Norfolk will be a blow, especially given his suitability to Knapper's preferences. He's a technically proficient, home-grown 23-year-old who many feel has levels to go through yet, and his slipping out of the yellow and green grasp is a source of frustration.

The Canaries wanted to keep hold of Sam McCallum (Image: Matt Wilkinson/Focus Images Ltd)

On the other hand there's Jacob Sorensen, whose new one-year deal is on favourable terms for Norwich and gives them more time to look at a player who still feels hard to totally grasp.

The 26-year-old has yet to nail down a spot in the starting line-up despite, playing a key role in 2021's title success and impressing with his Premier League performances under Dean Smith.

The greatest blight on his City career has been injury, with knee niggles, ankle ailments and thigh trouble interrupting whenever he strings some good form together. That's likely why Knapper has committed only to another 12 months for the Dane, even if there is an option to extend that.

Then there's the unanswered strain: Ken Aboh. The young striker has been the subject of an inordinate amount of attention and speculation for someone with just one appearance to his name, but perhaps that's a sign of the talent he possesses.

Norwich fans will have to wait for news on Ken Aboh (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Keeping the 19-year-old would be a serious statement of intent by Knapper this summer, a sign that Norwich had quickly pivoted from their struggling player pathway to attracting a man of Aboh's calibre.

In any case the foundations have been laid for a transition from the hodgepodge of disconnected ideas that the club was back to a cohesive unit that serves the needs of its fan base and its balance sheet.

In the context of potential departures for Gabriel Sara and Jonathan Rowe these changed may feel very minor in weeks to come, but City have lost players they paid more than £15million for free.

That may not necessarily be a bad thing, however, if Knapper can make the most of the opportunity it creates.