Kellen Fisher, Liam Gibbs, and Tony Springett might all go on loan this summer to further their development. Kellen Fisher, Liam Gibbs, and Tony Springett could all leave Norwich City on loan this summer as Johannes Hoff Thorup and Ben Knapper begin the post-David Wagner era in earnest.
The German was fired just days after the Canaries lost 4-0 to Leeds United in the second leg of their play-off semi-final, and has since been replaced by Thorup, who led FC Nordsjaelland to fourth place in the Danish Superliga last season.
Knapper, meantime, was appointed Norwich’s new sporting director at the end of November, succeeding Stuart Webber.
Thorup’s first transfer window at Carrow Road looks to be a hectic one, with the futures of many key players still uncertain and a handful of periphery players perhaps loaned out.
Norwich trio may be loaned out Fisher, Gibbs, and Springett may fall into the latter category, following a season in which they had few opportunities to establish themselves in Wagner’s plans.
Fisher made only 14 appearances for the Canaries in all competitions last season, including three starts in the Championship, while Springett started one of his ten league games before being loaned out to Northampton for the second half of the season.
Gibbs, meanwhile, appeared in 27 games across all competitions but was primarily used as a substitute, missing Norwich’s final four games of the season and both legs of the semi-final against Leeds due to a thigh injury.
It puts Thorup and Knapper in a difficult position heading into the new season, as they must decide whether to give the youthful three a chance to establish themselves at Carrow Road or loan them away to ensure regular action.
The latter decision paid off for Abu Kamara, who scored eight goals and assisted ten more in 46 league appearances while on loan at Portsmouth last season, helping Pompey gain promotion to the Championship.
According to Portsmouth News, Kamara will return to Carrow Road, where he has been “earmarked for a pathway into Norwich’s first team”.
Thorup would expect similar results if he loaned out any of Gibbs, Fisher, or Springett.
Tony Springett struggled on loan in Northampton.
Last season was especially distressing for the former, who won the club’s young player of the year award in his first season with Norwich, making 16 Championship starts and 37 league games in total.
However, his growth halted under Wagner last season, and he will be eager for a fresh start under Thorup, who has earned a reputation in Denmark for valuing academy products.
That should be excellent news for Fisher, who made his England Under-20 debut in a friendly against Sweden earlier this month.
The right-back joined Plymouth Argyle from non-league Bromley last summer, but his early season performances persuaded Wagner to give Bali Mumba a permanent move to the club, and the 20-year-old should prosper under Thorup.
Springett, meanwhile, started just one of his 13 League One games for Northampton last season, and his future is uncertain.
However, in him, Fisher, and Gibbs, Norwich has three unpolished jewels, and it would not be shocking if Thorup gives the latter two a prominent role in the club next season. Kamara’s impressive term at Portsmouth also serves as a timely reminder to the Canaries of the importance of loans in player development.
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