The Canaries have just signed left-back Xavi Quintilla from Villarreal, reported the official club website, on a season-long loan deal that can be made permanent at any point during the 2020/2021 season.
Stocked
After the arrival of Sam McCallum, Norwich City now have three left-backs who will all expect some element of first team football this campaign.
Does the move for Quintilla give us a hint about the future of Jamal Lewis?
Liverpool attempted to sign the starlet, but failed to meet Norwich’s asking price of 20 million pounds and dropped out of the deal.
Clues
There’s no speculation that a team hit that magic number, but the arrival of Quintilla suggests that manager Daniel Farke and sporting director Stuart Webber are anticipating some movement on this front.
The new arrival won’t want to kick his heels in the reserves. He’s just come off the back of a campaign were he featured semi-regularly for Villarreal in La Liga, and has taken a drop in level to join the Canaries.
You don’t sign a player like that for the Championship and let him kick his heels, which he’ll do if Lewis remains in the squad.
Quality
Whatever the outcome of this summer’s transfer window, the deal shows excellent forward planning from Norwich. Quintilla is still just 23-years-old and has excellent pedigree, having come through the system at Barcelona’s La Masia academy. He’s also got over 30 appearances in the Spanish top flight under his belt.
McCallum is only 19, but was one of the standout performers in League One for Coventry City last season and will expect to continue that development under the guidance of Farke.
Plans can change very quickly, especially in the unpredictable world of the transfer market, but Norwich signing a third left-back is no coincidence and it must mean that they’re planning for life without one of their most saleable assets.