Norwich City will be vying to land a top-six spot come the end of the 2024/25 Championship season, following last season’s heavy defeat to Leeds United in the play-off semi-final.
The 4-0 loss to the Whites cost former manager David Wagner his job, and he was subsequently replaced by young Danishman Johannes Hoff Thorup, who will look to utilise the current transfer window to shape his squad.
The Canaries will view their opening fixture with newly promoted Oxford United as a big opportunity to pick up all three points at the first time asking but will be wary of visiting the Kassam Stadium, which will still be buoyant from the U’s 2-0 Wembley win over Bolton Wanderers in the League One play-off final back in May.
Meanwhile, Hoff Thorup’s new additions will be keen to impress, beginning with their clash in Oxfordshire with Des Buckingham’s men on August 10, although their window has yet to get going.
FLWÂ looks at two clear winners from the Canaries’ transfer activity so far in the early stages of the window.
Jacob Lungi Sorensen
Versatile midfielder Jacob Lungi Sorensen missed the first half of last campaign due to a pelvic injury, but the 26-year-old hopes to experience much more playing time next season.
The former Denmark youth international can play at either centre-back, full-back or as a defensive midfielder, and he was deployed as a defender during his most memorable performance of 2023/24, as he scored and assisted during a 5-0 victory over eventually relegated Rotherham United back in March.
The door could now be ajar for Lungi Sorensen to slot into Hoff Thorup’s backline next campaign following the recent exits of central defenders Ben Gibson and Danny Batth, whose contracts both expired earlier in the summer.
Gibson has subsequently joined fellow Championship outfit Stoke City, At the same time, the signings of Jose Cordoba and Callum Doyle indicate that the Canaries boss is keen to re-shape his club’s defence, and Sorensen will now hope to be a part of a potentially new-look back-line.
Angus Gunn
Angus Gunn has established himself as the Canaries’ first choice between the sticks over the last two seasons, making 30 Championship appearances during 2022/23, and playing 42 times in the last campaign.
But despite the Scotland Euro 2024 goalkeeper’s efforts, the men from Carrow Road conceded 64 goals last season, more than any other top-six side, and just one fewer than relegated Birmingham City.
Last season, Gunn maintained 11 clean sheets and prevented 4.55 goals, according to FotMob, as well as making 105 saves, while he also boasts impressive distribution statistics as he maintained a pass accuracy of 78.1%.
The 28-year-old should be pleased by the fact that Hoff Thorup is looking to improve the Canaries’ defence, as demonstrated by the addition of Cordoba, who will likely only get better during his time at Carrow Road aged just 23.
Gunn will hope that next season he can maintain more clean sheets with a stronger backline in front of him, while Hoff Thorup will hope that the Canaries can maintain a stronger defence than that seen under Wagner last season.