3 signings Norwich City could make to finally replace Oliver Skipp From Norwich never fully replaced their former loanee, Skipp excelled in defensive midfield at Norfolk.
Norwich City are short of defensive midfield positions, with Danish midfielder Jacob Lungi Sörensen the only real recognized option for the position at the club, but the 25-year-old is currently injured.
Gabriel Sara and Kenny McLean currently play this role ably to make up for the lack of options – the latter won five of their seven ground duels against QPR on Saturday, according to Sofascore – but David Wagner’s side could do with a new addition to the team. building to replace defensive midfield play.
Norwich have not had a henchman in the position since Oliver Skipp left the club in 2021 following a highly successful loan spell from Tottenham. The 23-year-old is now in and around Spurs’ first team after a formative year at Carrow Road.
Skipp won a total of 56 tackles during the 2020-21 season with the Canaries, according to FBRef – helping Norwich win the league title – and gave the team the courage and dynamism in defense that enabled them to players like Emiliano Buendía and Teemu Pukki to follow. more self-confidence in the future.
Related 3players Norwich could sign from Arsenal using Ben Knapper’s connectionsWagner hopes he can land his own captain in January to strengthen his current squad, adding a resilient piece to help a struggling Canaries backline who will hopefully bring his team more wins as a result.1Max Vogel
Norwich have been linked with Derby County’s Eiran Cashin in the past, but Wagner is expected to keep tabs on the Rams squad as a whole and launch an attack on Max Bird in January to bolster his options in defensive midfield.
Bird has also attracted plenty of interest in his services and with the Derby midfielder’s contract at the club set to expire soon, Norwich are expected to rush for the 23-year-old to secure him for a cheaper price.
The defensive midfielder has played for Paul Warne’s up-and-coming Rams this season and has averaged 4.8 balls per game in the middle of the park in League One this season.
Derby’s number 8 can even play further forward in attacking midfield, potentially competing with Marcelino Núñez should he be signed. Bird scored twice in this more forward-looking role in his side’s recent comprehensive 4-0 league win over Northampton Town.
Wagner was stupid not to test the waters at Pride Park with a bid for their star player in the upcoming transfer window. 2 George Dobson
Another defensive midfielder option the under-pressure German manager could bring forward is Charlton Athletic’s George Dobson, the Addicks captain who has been an ever-present for his side this season.
With an average score of 7.18 in League One this season, Charlton’s number four at center has been a tough opponent for Michael Appleton’s side in the playoffs so far – he has already picked up four yellow cards in 17 matches played. His ball recovery numbers are incredible for Charlton to make up for his feistiness.
An average of 8.5 balls recovered per match for the Addicks in the third division.Dobson is tireless and constantly trying to break up the play.
With his play, he really fits the Skipp mold that Norwich expects from a new defensive midfielder. Dobson has even scored three goals for Appleton’s men this season and scored a long-range effort in front of the TV cameras in the FA Cup.
The former Sunderland player may still need some convincing to leave the Valley – he is wearing the third division club’s captain’s armband this season, a crucial piece of the Charlton jigsaw – but it is a decision that Wagner still plans to continue in January.
3Jenson MetcalfeNorwich could again go down the loan route of a young Premier League player, who worked so effectively with Skipp the first time around, and Everton’s Jenson Metcalfe has stood out as an impressive defensive midfielder in the Premier League 2.
For the Toffees at under-23 level, Metcalfe has scored one goal and two assists in eight appearances this season – alternating between playing further back as an anchor and playing in a simpler central position.
According to Everton’s official club website, Metcalfe’s footballing idol is Sergio Busquets, which is evident in the 19-year-old’s play – a disruptive presence in the middle of the park who occasionally gives bursts of energy to his team.
Having signed a senior contract at Goodison Park last year to keep him at Everton until 2026, this could be the right time for Metcalfe to experience men’s football away from the Toffees.
Could Norwich be the perfect next step for the promising midfielder? Time will tell.
