Norwich City’s Move for Pep Lijnders Hits Major Obstacle Over Compensation
Norwich City’s efforts to appoint former Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders appear to have run into a major hurdle.
Following the sacking of Johannes Hoff Thorup in April, Jack Wilshere took charge of the Canaries for the final Championship matches. However, he was quickly informed he wouldn’t be in contention for the role permanently. Instead, the club shifted focus to Lijnders, who previously served as Jürgen Klopp’s right-hand man at Anfield.
But according to journalist Alan Nixon, Norwich’s pursuit of Lijnders could be derailed due to a significant financial snag.
Lijnders’ brief stint as head coach of RB Salzburg — following his departure from Liverpool in summer 2024 — ended in January 2025 after just six months. Despite a solid record on paper, Salzburg’s lofty expectations weren’t met, and he was dismissed with the team trailing ten points behind leaders Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga.
Although the club agreed to pay out the remainder of his contract, Lijnders would forfeit that compensation if he accepts another job — including a potential offer from Norwich. This means taking up the Carrow Road post could cost him millions of euros in lost earnings unless Norwich are willing to foot the bill.
The situation places Norwich in a financial dilemma. They could agree to cover the compensation, but doing so would represent a substantial outlay. With alternative managerial options on the table — particularly those with proven Championship credentials — the club may ultimately be forced to look elsewhere if the Lijnders deal proves too costly.
While Lijnders remains a strong candidate, the financial implications may push Norwich to pursue a more budget-conscious appointment.
