Norwich City are poised for a significant transformation within their squad, with midfielder Marcelino Nunez set to join local rivals Ipswich Town. Reports suggest that the Canaries have reached an agreement for a £10 million deal, which includes £2.5 million in performance-related bonuses, to facilitate the transfer of the Chilean international, who is currently in Ipswich to finalise the arrangements. Read more about Norwich City Face Contract Dilemmas as Key Players Eye Exit.
Despite Norwich's desire to retain Nunez, who is entering the final year of his contract, the club has struggled to convince him to extend his stay. The player has turned down contract offers from the club both this summer and during the previous season. This transfer represents a notable chapter in the fierce rivalry between Norwich and Ipswich, as the Tractor Boys’ bid was the only offer received for Nunez during the current transfer window.
To fill the void left by Nunez's departure, Norwich City are reportedly set to bring in Pelle Mattsson from Silkeborg. The 23-year-old midfielder is travelling to Norfolk to undergo a medical examination ahead of a move valued at £2.7 million, with an additional £300,000 in potential add-ons. Norwich had previously shown interest in Serbian player Mirko Topic, who was signed from Famalicao earlier this summer, but negotiations concerning Mattsson had stalled. With the transfer window closing in just four days, Norwich appear determined to secure Mattsson’s services, having monitored him since the latter part of the previous season.
Head coach Liam Manning remains open to further signings, despite already adding 11 new players to the squad this summer. In a recent pre-match press conference ahead of the Blackburn fixture, he remarked, "It's the transfer window, right? You never know what happens. It's such a fluid, evolving time of year that anything can happen."
Nunez's impending exit is particularly poignant for Norwich fans, given his significant contributions to the club, including scoring the decisive goal in the most recent East Anglian derby, which extended Norwich's unbeaten run against Ipswich to an impressive 16 years. Since joining from Universidad Catolica in 2022, Nunez has made 119 appearances for the Canaries, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists. Read more about Medic and Kovacevic Target Stronger Showing Against Boro.
Mattsson, who is making his first move outside of Denmark, expressed his eagerness for a new challenge earlier this summer. "I'm not disappointed that nothing has fallen into place yet," he told Midtjyllands Avis. "My agent and I are watching the time and seeing if something comes along that suits both parties. Then we'll see when it happens... if it happens. It's not up to me whether I'm here after September 1st, but I've said that I'm ready for the next step."
As the transfer deadline approaches, Norwich City are bracing themselves for a busy conclusion to the window, with supporters keenly observing how the squad will evolve for the upcoming season.