Football League World
·27 August 2024
Football League World
·27 August 2024
Norwich City's wantaway winger Abu Kamara is continuing to attract interest
Norwich City have reportedly turned down three bids from three separate Championship clubs for Abu Kamara, who currently faces an uncertain future at Carrow Road, but the club are willing to sell him at the right place.
The latest development in the ongoing Kamara saga comes via a report from The Pink Un, who has claimed that numerous second-tier rivals have made advances for the winger and are expected to return with increased offers before Friday's transfer deadline.
He could represent the latest high-profile summer exit following the departures of Adam Idah, Gabriel Sara, and most recently Jonathan Rowe, the latter of whom recently joined Marseille on an initial loan deal with a £17m obligation to buy after demanding a move away from Norfolk.
Kamara enjoyed a successful loan spell with Portsmouth in their title-winning League One campaign last time out and there has been interest in attempting a potential return to Fratton Park, though Blues boss John Mousinho has confirmed the club have not yet advanced their efforts to sign him again.
Southwell's reveal does not mention the financial value of the bids nor exactly which teams they have been submitted by, although it is believed Hull City are among the interested parties and none are currently at the level to convince Norwich into sanctioning a sale for the time being.
Further approaches, however, are anticipated before the window closes on Friday evening, meaning an intriguing saga promises to take place over the coming days.
Kamara formally submitted a transfer request in a bid to leave Norwich last week and is poised to move on if the club meet the demands, but the report reiterates a departure will not be given the green light unless the proposal is on the Canaries' terms. Norwich are under no significant pressure to offload further assets after selling Idah, Sara, and Rowe and are not willing to part ways with Kamara quite so easily.
The England U20 international has made two substitute appearances in the Championship for Norwich so far this season but was left out of the matchday squad for Saturday's 1-1 home draw against Sheffield United, with boss Johannes Hoff Thorup explaining a departure would only happen on their terms.
He said of Kamara: "I spoke with him the other day, and we just decided that the game will not be for him, for both parties in this, not to create too much distraction and too much attention about that.
"I think that was also what he, actually at the end, thought was the best decision. So we take it a little bit day by day with Abu and see how it goes.
"We don't give any players away for free. So that's the situation. I like him. He's a good lad, and I think he performs well in training. And he's a big part of the group, and will still be, until there is a transfer deal that we can accept.
"Because I think we've proven that with both Jonny (Rowe) and Adam (Idah) and Gabby (Sara) so far this window, that's we have players here on contracts and we need them for performance, and we can only accept if there's a good offer."
Norwich's hardball stance regarding Kamara's immediate future with the club is commendable and they are doing the right thing by refusing to let him leave unless their demands are met.
Of course, they are not under any pressure to sell and will not be expected to until a suitor matches the asking price they have in place for Kamara - and it remains to be seen whether that will happen or not before Friday evening.
Ultimately, if a player does not want to be at the club anymore, then there is only so much Norwich can do. However, it is hard to argue that they would not benefit from a resolution to the saga in terms of Kamara himself opting to stay put.
He was a joy to watch at Portsmouth last season and made a real impression with his direct dribbling, goalscoring and creativity, and Norwich would surely like to reap those very rewards themselves this term - especially after the departure of Rowe.
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