It’s obvious Norwich City will achieve Championship play-off place in 2025/26 after ‘statement of intent’

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Despite the Championship campaign being months away from kick-off, the early summer transfer window business at Carrow Road points towards Norwich finishing in the top-six.

Norwich City are on a mission in the summer transfer window to improve on their 13th-placed finish from last season’s Championship.

Ahead of the 2025/26 Championship campaign, former Bristol City manager Liam Manning was appointed by Norwich to spearhead the club’s promotion charge, in a major coup for the Canaries.

In terms of the playing squad, Norwich signed Harry Darling despite interest from Rangers this week, after the central defender departed Championship rivals Swansea City.

Looking ahead to the approaching second tier season, it’s clear that the Canaries are contenders for a top-six place.

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Norwich City have made ‘statement of intent’ ahead of 2025/26 Championship

First and foremost, the Canaries hierarchy acquired one of the most highly-coveted head coaches in the Championship quickly after the season concluded.

After Norwich registered interest in Manning, they rapidly replaced former boss Johannes Hoff Thorup after his tenure finished with a concerning dip in form.

Despite Manning’s Bristol City being beaten convincingly in the play-off semi-finals by Sheffield United, Manning performed wonders to get that Robins side into the top-six come the end of the regular season.

In addition to Manning’s acquisition, Norwich’s incomings and outgoings also highlight the upwards trajectory the club is on in the wake of last season.

Norwich moved quickly to sign Jacob Wright permanently from Manchester City after his impressive loan stint last term, and the £2.3m purchase constitutes some stellar business by the Norwich hierarchy, who believe Wright can be a “huge player” in the coming campaign.

Aside from Wright, Norwich have signed Angus Gunn’s replacement in the form of former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw for just £600,000.

Despite this shrewd business, the biggest coup for the Canaries this summer, which will cement their status as top-six contenders, is the arrival of centre-back Darling.

Championship expert Ryan Dilks told the Second Tier podcast hailed Darling’s Carrow Road switch as a “real statement of intent”.

Dilks said: “It’s a great move, and I’ve been very impressed with Norwich in the early weeks of the summer,

“Persuading Liam Manning to join, fighting off a lot of competition to persuade Harry Darling to sign. I think these first few weeks of the summer have been a real statement of intent from them.”

The summer signings and the acquisition of Manning have catapulted the Canaries to early top-six contenders, and their potential for a play-off spot will be made far more of a certainty if the club can get the next order of business correct.

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Norwich City must keep hold of Josh Sargent despite Leeds United’s £16.8m approach

Winger Borga Sainz and striker Josh Sargent were the two stars of the Canaries’ show last season, and despite the team’s lacklustre performances as a whole, managed to score a combined tally of 33 goals and notch nine assists in the league between them.

As a result, transfer interest in the duo has been rife this summer, with Italian champions Napoli submitting multiple bids for Sainz on the back of the first bids Norwich received for Sainz earlier in June, from Athletic Bilbao.

Given that the Spaniard is entering the final year of his contract, the likely outcome this summer is that the Canaries transfer team cash in on last season’s Championship golden boot race runner-up before they lose him for free next year.

Sainz’s departure will no doubt be sorely felt, but there are options to replace the winger, with Josh Murphy an option as Norwich’s next signing in mind.

However, the story is different for Sargent, who has three years remaining on his current Canaries contract.

EFL Analysis revealed earlier this season that there is a “real chance” Sargent moves to the Premier League this summer, and following those reports, Sky Sports outlined that Leeds United have made a £16.8m approach for the USA international.

With Sainz’s departure seemingly inevitable, the Canaries must keep hold of Sargent at all costs and build on the stellar business they have completed so far this summer.

Retaining the 15-goal forward would tip the scales even further in Norwich’s favour for a top-six place next term.