Norwich City’s transfer approach indicates busy Ben Knapper period looming in 2025.

Norwich City’s January transfer window has been relatively quiet, but it lays the stage for a busy summer season.

Ben Knapper has been cautious with his tactics this January. The team focuses on a long-term strategy, with Ashley Barnes and Grant Hanley leaving and Matej Jurasek and Lewis Dobbin joining. Anis Ben Slimane’s transfer was confirmed as permanent, as expected.

Although greater than the previous January window, when Sydney van Hooijdonk joined the Canaries without much success, this window is not comparable to Hull City or Sheffield United.

It’s another meticulously choreographed transfer window, with the potential for massive squad upheaval in the summer.

Norwich may lose some key players this summer.

There’s no doubt that Norwich will have some defending to do come the end of the season.

Mark Attanasio, majority stakeholder, stated that there was no immediate need to sell key players like Borja Sainz in January, despite past links with Galatasaray.Several La Liga clubs, including Girona, have expressed interest in reuniting the winger with his hometown.

However, most high-profile movements will always take place in the summer, raising questions about Sainz and at least two others.

Norwich turned down Everton’s £7 million deal for Marcelino Nunez in January, according to reports. It cannot be considered a genuine bid; anyone who has followed Norwich this season knows it would take a considerably more generous offer to persuade them to let him go.

However, the Nunez proposal appears to be Everton’s way of testing the waters. It’s unclear whether they’ll still be interested with David Moyes back in charge, but they’re unlikely to be the only ones hoping to sign Nunez this summer.

Josh Sargent has had a similar path; after returning after a lengthy absence, he has already proven himself to be a valuable asset and has emerged as a key character under Johannes Hoff Thorup.

In the past year, he has sparked interest in his home nation, with St Louis and FC Cinncinati keeping him on their radar. The Premier League may be more appealing to the American international, with Bournemouth considering a bid last summer. With centre-forwards in scarce supply these days, it’s difficult to envisage Sargent not attracting interest.

Norwich may have had an advantage in keeping them in January because all three were sidelined due to injury or suspension. From a football standpoint, it’s obviously thrilling for Canaries supporters that all three are about to take the field. However, if they continue to deliver consistently high-quality performances, there will undoubtedly be some concern about losing them when the season ends.