Ben Chrisene’s Norwich City move was a game of patience, revealed Johannes Hoff Thorup.
The 20-year-old left back could be in line to make his Carrow Road debut in Saturday’s pre-season finale against St Pauli.
The England Under-20 international flew out to Austria after sealing a surprise move from Aston Villa that was a long time in the planning for City officials.
Villa’s squad makeover for a Champions League season ahead under Unai Emery, and a new deal on the cards in the Midlands for the former FA Youth Cup winner, made for protracted negotiations.
“It was a target where we really tried, went through a lot of conversations with him as well,” said the City chief. “It is obviously a difficult decision to take for him travelling to another part of the country into a new club new environment. But fortunately, he is in now with us.
“He was on top of our list. We also wanted to send a clear signal to him that it is for now but it’s also for the future and then hopefully he can bring this club, and this team, up to the next level. Then hopefully you can also take the step to the next level in the future.
“That’s the plan with him and I think definitely he has the potential, but he’s also a player for now.
“He’s a good technical player, he is used to, I will say it, thriving in teams where he can be involved a lot. He can be a good part of the build up game, but also offensively with his technique and his off the ball movement.”
City remain in pole position to seal a season long loan move for left-sided Manchester City defender, Callum Doyle, when he returns from the Citizens’ US pre-season tour.
Thorup admitted ahead of the club’s summer finale against St Pauli this weekend he wants another addition in that area of his squad, following the exits of Sam McCallum and Dimi Giannoulis at the end of last season.
“I think that could make sense for us,” he said. “So we can cover that left back position with a guy more and also that left centre back position maybe with a guy more. It is fair to say I think we are in the market and see what happens. And of course, things can happen before the start of the season.”
FOR MORE NEWS CLICK HERE
Leave a Reply