Norwich City Poised for Major Summer Overhaul Following Disappointing Championship Campaign
Norwich City are bracing for a transformative summer after a largely disappointing season in the Championship. With their slim play-off hopes extinguished, the club made the bold decision to part ways with head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup last week, ending his tenure just shy of a year. The move has sparked mixed reactions among supporters at Carrow Road.
Former England international Jack Wilshere has stepped in as interim manager and earned a respectable goalless draw in his debut against Middlesbrough on Saturday. He will have another chance to make his case when the Canaries host Cardiff City this weekend. While Wilshere hasn’t openly declared his desire for the permanent role, he did say he feels “ready to be a head coach at this level and make an impact.” However, reports suggest Norwich are considering an unexpected move for Watford manager Tom Cleverley, indicating that a final decision on the managerial position is still pending.
Despite the managerial uncertainty, Norwich have moved ahead with squad changes, announcing their retained and released list ahead of the final game of the season. Goalkeeper Angus Gunn, midfielder Jacob Sorensen, and winger Onel Hernandez will all leave the club when their contracts expire this summer.
Gunn, who returned for a third spell at Norwich from Southampton in 2021, has been the team’s primary goalkeeper over the past three seasons. His departure has surprised many fans, especially given his long-standing connection to the club. However, his future had come under speculation amid reported interest from Leeds United.
Sorensen, who joined from Danish club Esbjerg fB in 2020, was part of the Championship-winning squad under Daniel Farke. Despite contributing four goals and three assists in 109 appearances, injuries and inconsistent form have marred his recent seasons.
Hernandez, the longest-serving of the trio, arrived from Eintracht Braunschweig in January 2018 and was part of two promotions to the Premier League. Nevertheless, loan spells at Middlesbrough and Birmingham City and a recent omission from the matchday squad under Thorup—reportedly due to social media activity—signaled the end of his time at Carrow Road.
With the trio set to feature for the final time this weekend, attention has turned to the financial implications of their exits. According to Capology estimates, Gunn earns £25,000 per week (£1.3 million annually), Sorensen £20,000 per week (£1.04 million annually), and Hernandez £19,500 per week (£1.014 million annually). Combined, their departures will save Norwich around £64,500 per week and £3.35 million per year in wages—freeing up valuable space in the budget for sporting director Ben Knapper’s ongoing squad rebuild.
However, reinforcements will be necessary. Replacing Gunn appears especially urgent, given the inconsistent displays from George Long and Vicente Reyes in goal this season. A new number one will likely top the club’s summer shopping list.
