Norwich City in pursuit of Europa League goalkeeper, Ante Crnac knows just how good he is

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It’s all change between the posts at Norwich City this summer, and the Norfolk outfit are quickly pursuing replacements for Angus Gunn.

With Liam Manning set to take charge imminently, this transfer window is perhaps the Canaries’ most important in years as they seek a return to the top six following a difficult 2024/25 campaign, in which they finished 13th.

Jacob Wright became the club’s first signing of the summer in May, and Norwich are not resting on their laurels, with Daniel Grimshaw looking as though he will join Wright in the coming days.

However, the Plymouth Argyle shot-stopper is not the only goalkeeper that the recruitment team at Carrow Road are looking at, and they have their eyes firmly on Europe for their next target.

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Norwich City target Vladan Kovacevic

Portuguese outlet O Jogo have reported that Norwich are now looking at securing a deal for Sporting CP goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic this summer, who had a €60m release clause in his contract which was later retracted.

The Bosnian international, who is yet to play for his national side despite call-ups in the past, spent the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan in Poland with Legia Warsaw. Despite having a buy-out clause in the deal, Warsaw have not signed the 27-year-old.

Sporting are looking to recoup some of the fee that they spent on Kovacevic last summer, and the Canaries are now keen on bringing him to England as Manning prepares to take charge of the club ahead of his departure from Bristol City.

Ante Crnac has played with him in the past at Rakow, and the East Anglian side will know all about the qualities that he can add to the team if a deal is agreed.

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Vladan Kovacevic will likely take the number one shirt over Daniel Grimshaw

It was reported on Monday by Anthony Joseph that Norwich are set to spend £600,000 on Grimshaw, but after he had a challenging year at Plymouth Argyle, it seems unlikely that he will become the first-choice goalkeeper next season.

Therefore the addition of Kovacevic makes sense, and the towering Bosnian will be looking for more consistent game time following a tough season in Portugal and then Poland.

Norwich look likely to lose both Borja Sainz and Josh Sargent in the transfer window, and ensuring that the defence has stability is crucial if they are going to have to search for new forwards as well.

The Canaries conceded 68 goals in the Championship last season, and with Angus Gunn set to be off the books soon, there will be hope that Kovacevic can be the one to ensure that a similar campaign is not endured.