Norwich City: Patience needed for £8.5m deal to deliver Josh Sargent 2.0

When it comes to Norwich City’s summer acquisition of Ante Crnac, patience will be a virtue.

Rakow Częstochowa reportedly offered the highly regarded young Croatian a four-year contract worth £8.5 million, which is a significant sum for a player who hasn’t been proven much in the Polish League.

However, City supporters will recall a period when star player Josh Sargent wasn’t playing up to the level he’s set for himself in recent years, and like the American, Crnac is a player who will get better in the future.

Ante Crnac is already a danger man for the Canaries

Having started the 20-year-old in almost every league game since he joined in late August, Norwich manager Johannes Hoff Thorup clearly views him as a valuable member of the team.

Crnac scored his first goal for the Canaries during a 1-1 draw with Stoke City during that period. Without a doubt, his first appearance on the scoresheet in England was a crucial first step.

“You want to see those moments of top class quality, and he showed that,” Thorup said in his interview done after the game. He has a knack for placing himself in dangerous circumstances.

Crnac, a right-winger who enjoys taking players one-on-one and has no qualms about putting it in the box or cutting in to have a shot at goal, has simply missed that final surge of creativity thus far this season.

Thorup has urged patience with the Croatian

Ben Knapper and Thorup have undoubtedly made a long-term commitment to Crnac, as has been the case with most of the summer business.

Both have acknowledged that the Croatia U21 international will need some time to get used to English football and his new environment, but the more he’s played, the more he’s already showing.

Following the forward’s first goal, Thorup remarked, “We have had better and better performances throughout his time here, and he will definitely be even better in the future.”

Norwich’s successful outcomes will also be crucial in boosting Crnac’s confidence to continue playing to his strengths.

Crnac should follow in the footsteps of Josh Sargent

Many Norwich supporters used to wonder why Josh Sargent had been brought in when he originally joined the Canaries.

Despite a famous scorpion kick as part of a brace away to Watford, Sargent had a difficult season in his first season in the Premier League.

But the American international has become one of the most important players for Norwich City in the last couple of seasons, improving year-on-year.

He has already helped Crnac this season, though it’s debatable if being struck by a ball that then goes into the goal scorer’s path qualifies as an assist.

However, Sargent has a lot to teach the summer visitor. Similar to Crnac, Sargent was primarily on the right during his debut season.

Crnac was typically playing up top for Rakow, concentrating on the right side. Although Thorup is still figuring out how to best utilise his skills, concentrating on the right flank will undoubtedly give his game a new dimension in the future.

It could well be the case that Crnac is eyed to be the stand-in should Sargent make an exit from Carrow Road in the future, the way the latter slotted in up top following Teemu Pukki’s departure.

While they are not quite the same sort of player—Sargent plays a more complete center-forward role, while Crnac is more of a tricky ball carrier—both have an eye for goal and can pose challenges to defenders.

It will take some time for Crnac to get used to English football for the time being, but keep in mind that he is only 20 and this is his first time playing Championship game.

He will undoubtedly become a major player in the future, much like Sargent has in recent years, if Norwich supporters can afford to be patient with him.

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