Christos Tzolis return a win-win for Norwich City

Prior to kick-off, it seemed inevitable that Tzolis would end the night drenched in champagne, smiling from ear to ear and discussing his desire to remain with Dusseldorf ahead of their Bundesliga adventure. 

Instead, it ended in frustration with an emotional Tzolis seemingly beginning his goodbyes to the supporters and team that helped him re-discover his form after a turbulent few seasons since moving to Carrow Road in a big-money move, relative to the Canaries, in 2021. 

In Dusseldorf, Tzolis has looked transformed. Week after week has been met with goal after goal. Praise has followed. It's often felt surreal that this was a player deemed surplus to requirements last summer. 

What is the current state of play with Tzolis? Well, Fortuna have until the end of the month to exercise their permanent option - something that looks unlikely after their failing to reach the top-flight but would have been tough even with success over Bochum. 

There has been scepticism all season from leading figures at Fortuna over whether they would have the financial capability to activate that option agreed with City last summer. Even if they do, Tzolis is unlikely to now accept a move back to the Bundesliga Two, despite his newfound love for the club. 

If that remains the case, then Tzolis will be part of the group returning for pre-season testing on June 28 and assessed by soon-to-be City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup as part of his group next season. 

But... 

It's understood at this stage that Tzolis' preference is to remain in Germany with several Bundesliga clubs thought to hold a strong interest in the young winger. Union Berlin and Werder Bremen have been named as potential suitors in reports. 

They won't be alone. After a season that saw him record 34 goal contributions in 37 games in all competitions, several clubs will have taken notice of his output this season. Expect a summer of links and for Tzolis' representatives to get busy. 

Christos Tzolis has struggled to find form at Norwich City. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Tzolis remains highly rated in Europe. There is acceptance of the mitigation that surrounded his struggles in England - prior to joining Norwich, he hadn't really played in front of crowds and was extremely raw. 

After being informed last summer that other wingers, such as Onel Hernandez and Przemek Placheta, were ahead of him in David Wagner's selection order - Tzolis made clear his desire to depart the club. It will now take quite the conversation to convince him otherwise. Impossible? No. Improbable? Probably. 

To be fair to Wagner and the other coaches who have dismissed him at Carrow Road, Tzolis has struggled in England. He hasn't been able to find the spark that was so dangerous in Germany. His training levels weren't where they needed to be, and his performances were flat. 

But, for his second comeback in January 2023, Tzolis had been struggling with a knee injury that prevented him from finding his rhythm after a recall from Twente, and that dragged into pre-season. 

After a campaign as successful as Tzolis', there is inevitably an appetite from supporters to see him handed another chance at Norwich. Perhaps the bigger question is whether he will want to grab it, or even be given one at all. 

Tzolis no longer has Dimi Giannoulis for comfort at Carrow Road. The sales pitch will need to be convincing but is unlikely to be enough. 

Either Norwich gains a talented young player for Thorup to include in his system—with all the experience and nous he has of managing personalities, particularly young players—or they are back in control of the transfer fee. 

If Norwich could win that battle and successfully make that pitch, having Tzolis return would be a major boost to their attacking arsenal - but it would need further evidence that the psychological scars don't run deep enough to prevent performance in yellow and green. 

Given his performances and output this season, it may in Norwich's best interest to ramp up that fee and attempt to maximise it after a fantastic season rather than run the risk of it deflating again.

Christos Tzolis has found it taxing at Norwich City during his spell at the club. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

If they could see any type of return on the investment that brought the Greek to Norfolk initially, that would be some achievement given the position they were in 12 months ago. 

It would also add precious coffers to the recruitment fund, with plenty of changes expected as Ben Knapper seeks to significantly lower the squad's average age. 

That will take resource and will mean the need to sell talent. Perhaps the sales of Tzolis and Adam Idah, who impressed at Celtic, will enable Norwich to keep another of their main stars. But that is purely thinking out loud rather than solid economics. 

With Tzolis' stock at the highest point it has been as a Norwich player, there is an argument that now is the time to cash in on him. 

But on the flip side, talk him round and sell him the new project led by Knapper and Thorup, and he could be a deadly weapon in the Championship—with another season of impressive form swelling his transfer fee further. 

Christos Tzolis' future lays in the hands of sporting director Ben Knapper. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

That is the calculation that Knapper has to make this summer. When confirmed as boss, Thorup will likely run the rule over the 23-year-old as well. 

Tzolis has two years remaining on his contract. He is back at the Norwich crossroads that he spent plenty of his time at the club occupying. 

Right now, either outcome could be argued as a win for Norwich City—it is another issue for Knapper to calculate.