Bristol City boss Liam Manning has emerged as a strong contender for the vacant Norwich City managerial role, and fans may be concerned about a potential double departure involving winger Anis Mehmeti if the move materializes.
As per Bristol Live, there has been no formal approach for the 39-year-old manager just yet. Manning, who came through Norwich’s youth ranks before making his professional debut at rivals Ipswich Town, is reportedly on Norwich’s radar to replace Johannes Hoff Thorup, who was dismissed in April. Leicester City are also said to be in the race for his signature, according to Ben Jacobs.
Manning has won praise for his impressive work at Ashton Gate this season, guiding the Robins to a sixth-place finish—their best in the Championship since 2008. With such achievements, interest from other clubs is no surprise. However, the idea of Manning bringing Mehmeti with him to Carrow Road could unsettle Bristol City fans.
Mehmeti’s Norwich connection adds an intriguing layer to the story. The 24-year-old spent time in the Norwich academy earlier in his career before leaving in 2019 without making a senior appearance. Since then, he has developed into a key attacking threat and was instrumental in Bristol City’s play-off run, scoring 12 goals and providing one assist in 42 league appearances.
With Norwich likely to receive interest in standout winger Borja Sainz this summer, Mehmeti could be an ideal replacement if a sale goes through. His performance data from the 2024/25 campaign compares well to Sainz’s, with Mehmeti averaging 2.89 shots per game and 6.19 touches in the opponent’s box per 90 minutes—nearly matching Sainz’s 2.94 shots and exceeding his 4.39 touches (via Fbref).
The combination of Manning and Mehmeti has proven successful at Bristol City, and their strong working relationship could carry over to Norwich should the duo reunite. The Canaries are eager to find a coach who can return them to the promotion mix after slipping to 13th under Thorup. David Wagner had previously led them to a top-six finish in 2024, but the team’s form declined significantly under his Danish successor.
Norwich may be able to offer Manning the resources and platform to build a serious promotion-challenging side. Should he agree to take the job, recruiting Mehmeti would further strengthen the squad.
Such a scenario would represent a major setback for Bristol City—not only losing their manager but also one of their most dynamic players. The prospect of the pair continuing their successful partnership at Carrow Road is a real concern for Robins supporters, and one that Norwich fans will be watching with keen interest.
