With the summer transfer window approaching, Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony believes that Norwich City will attempt a move to sign one of his defensive stars.
Norwich transfer news
With just four points standing between themselves and the Championship top six, there’s still every chance that Norwich enjoy an exciting end to the season in the remaining 13 games. It would certainly be an excellent achievement if Johannes Hoff Thorup took his side to the play-offs at the first time of asking in England’s second tier, but a winless run of three games suggests there’s work to be done in pursuit of that goal.
Meanwhile, as that battle continues, those at Carrow Road could already be setting their sights on summer reinforcements who could bridge that gap on the top six and take Thorup’s side up a level or two.
The rumours are already getting underway and have already been fuelled by another EFL chief. Peterborough chairman MacAnthony even believes that Norwich will attempt to sign Emmanuel Fernandez this summer after failing to secure his signature at the end of the January transfer window for £2.5m.
Sharing his surprise at Fernandez’s stay, MacAnthony told The Hard Truth podcast, as relayed by the Peterborough Telegraph: “It blew my mind and the mind of my gaffer when Manny and his brothers turned the deal down.”
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He then went on to say: “Norwich became irritated and I don’t blame them. Manny’s had a lot of grief in his life in the last 18 months, but I believe Norwich will try again in the summer. At 23 he’s a magnificent prospect.
“He has all the attributes needed to have a great career. He wins everything in the air, 80% of his headers in fact which is way above average, and he can play out with the ball. With the right coaching and improvement he can be like Ethan Pinnock and James Tarkowski who made their way up the leagues to the top.”
Norwich should go again for Fernandez
A 6’6 central defender who is still just 23 years old, Norwich should return to secure Fernandez’s signature this summer, even despite their irritation over their January failure.
Compared to both Pinnock and Tarkowski – albeit by a chairman perhaps eyeing profit – Fernandez could unlock the next step for Thorup’s side at Carrow Road, which would see them step into the top six once again.
When the summer transfer window swings open, it will certainly be interesting to see whether MacAnthony is left in shock once again or if Norwich finally get the defender they’ve been chasing since the turn of the year.
Given how he’s been praised, the 23-year-old is undoubtedly one to watch – whether it’s at Peterborough or in the Championship with Norwich, as he looks to replicate Tarkowski and Pinnock’s Premier League success.
