Norwich City’s Late Transfer Moves Address Key Squad Gaps but Leave Questions Unanswered
After a relatively subdued January, Norwich City made a strong finish to the winter transfer window, securing three new signings on deadline day and beyond.
The late acquisitions, led by highly regarded Slavia Prague winger Matěj Jurásek, help shore up areas of concern in the Canaries’ squad depth as they push for a coveted Championship play-off spot.
What began as an anxious week for the Carrow Road faithful ended with the team’s core being reinforced by two promising young internationals, while the clear lack of quality wingers was alleviated by the arrivals of Lewis Dobbin and the aforementioned Czech talent.
However, while on paper Norwich seemed to have pulled off some smart late business, the bigger question remains—have they done enough to satisfy supporters ahead of a crucial promotion push?
Concerns Over Striker Depth as Sargent Remains Key
With the transfer window now closed, FLW spoke to Norwich fan pundit Zeke Downes about what, if anything, he felt the club could have done differently.
“One thing I really wish we had done was sign a striker. If Josh Sargent gets injured, we don’t have a proper replacement,” Downes said.
“We’ve got Ante Crnac, but he’s not a natural striker. We can make adjustments, but it’s not ideal. We just have to hope Josh stays fit, which hasn’t always been the case.”
He also pointed out that allowing Ken Aboh to leave on loan to Colchester without securing another forward could prove risky.
“That was one position I thought we should have strengthened. But at the same time, you don’t want to bring in a striker expecting to play regularly, because they probably wouldn’t. So I understand why they didn’t.”
Downes’ concerns are valid—without proper backup, another injury setback for the injury-prone Sargent could severely impact Norwich’s attacking options under Johannes Hoff Thorup during the season’s critical final stretch.
Ante Crnac Must Step Up as a Versatile Forward
Croatian forward Ante Crnac has had an up-and-down debut season at Carrow Road.
Since arriving in late August for a sizable fee from Polish side Raków, the 21-year-old has racked up 30 appearances across all competitions.
Although signed as a centre-forward, he has predominantly featured on the right wing when Sargent has been available. His five Championship goals—against Stoke, Swansea, Plymouth, and Luton—suggest promise, but he has yet to score against a top-tier opponent, indicating room for improvement.
With the arrival of Matěj Jurásek, Crnac may now see his role shift again. If he loses his regular spot on the wing, he will need to be ready to step in as the main striker when needed—a responsibility that could define Norwich’s play-off hopes.
With no new centre-forward signing to provide additional cover, the pressure is on Crnac to adapt and deliver in Sargent’s absence. If he fails to do so, it could have serious consequences for the
Canaries’ promotion aspirations.
