Norwich City are attempting to secure a play-off berth for the second consecutive season, but a lack of consistency has hampered the Canaries’ top-six ambitions.
Johannes Hoff Thorup’s side has achieved some impressive successes, including a 4-1 victory over fellow play-off candidates Watford in September and a 6-1 win over Plymouth Argyle last month.
However, the Canaries have suffered several memorable defeats, including a 3-0 loss to lowly Queens Park Rangers and a 2-0 home defeat to Bristol City.
Meanwhile, Capology estimates that Norfolk has the Championship’s sixth-highest weekly wage bill, at £417,500. This is something that Hoff Thorup and co. may be trying to solve in the January transfer window, so Football League World looks at how the Canaries may cut £57.5k from their weekly payroll:
Ashley Barnes exit
Ashley Barnes is Norwich City’s joint-second highest-paid player, earning £30,000 per week and £1,560,000 per year, according to Capology.
Despite scoring six goals and assisting five times in the Championship last season, he missed his first appearance since the play-off semi-finals against Leeds United in the summer due to a calf injury.
| Ashley Barnes 2023/24 Championship stats | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 35 |
| Starts | 30 |
| Goals | 6 |
| Assists | 5 |
Given the presence of the prolific Borja Sainz, it is possible that the Canaries may pursue 35-year-old Barnes, who has been linked with Sheffield United.
Receiving a fee from the Blades and freeing up £30,000 in weekly pay should enable the new Norwich manager to spend in January.
Christian Fassnacht exit
When Christian Fassnacht joined from Swiss Super League team Young Boys in the summer of 2023, he appeared to be a solid addition to the Carrow Road side, having previously represented his former club in all three Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League competitions.
However, the wideman was not particularly productive last season, scoring only six goals in 42 Championship appearances. This was especially disappointing given that he had scored eight goals in 29 games during the previous Swiss Super League campaign, and 11 goals in just 18 league appearances in 2021/22.
The 31-year-old has battled for game time this season due to an Achilles injury, and the Canaries may save £20,000 per week by allowing him to leave in January, according to Capology estimates.
Cancelling Kaide Gordon’s loan
Kaide Gordon joined the Canaries on a season-long loan from Premier League giants Liverpool at the start of this season, but has battled for playing time in the Championship.
He demonstrated his abilities when he scored off the bench in October’s 4-0 victory over Hull City, but he has yet to establish a permanent starting XI berth in Hoff Thorup’s side, despite occasional cameo appearances from the bench.
According to Capology estimates, Gordon earns £7,500 per week, which the Canaries could try to save from their payroll by cancelling his loan or recalling him in January.
Earlier in December, reports suggested that Liverpool was planned negotiations with Norwich over the loanee and had not ruled out a recall.
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