According to the latest report from the Eastern Daily Press, Norwich City are interested in signing Bolton Wanderers’ teen sensation Luca Connell. The midfielder made his debut for Bolton in January, and he has looked impressive since then. However, his club are going through a major crisis as the Trotters had to cancel their last fixture as the players were unwilling to play because of unpaid wages.
The teenager is expected to depart in the summer as Bolton’s future is up in the air. The likes of Brighton and Southampton wanted him in January, but he stayed put with the Trotters. The signing club will only need to pay a compensation fee for the midfielder as he is in the final few months of his contract.
It is being said that Daniel Farke is keen on a defensive midfielder to prepare and bolster his squad for the Premier League next season. 18-year-old Connell might take some time to perform at the top division, but he has shown signs that he could be ready for the challenge soon.
Premier League heavyweights like Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be interested, so the Canaries won’t find it easy to lure him to Carrow Road. However, with Premier League promotion, they do stand with a chance to get the former Ireland u-17 international.
What will Connell bring to the table?
Connell played the first few games as a left wing-back, but his overall quality on the ball was a clear indication that he could thrive in midfield. The left-footed midfielder is known for his ability to carry out the ball from the back, and he has the ability to pick out a pass or two. To go with that, he can do the dirty work as well in midfield which makes him a complete package as a defensive midfielder.
Right fit for Farke?
Farke has set up his team to build from the back, and it would be interesting to see whether he would stick with his philosophy when he comes up against tougher opponents in the Premier League. When a side builds up from the back, the defensive midfielder often becomes a crucial player to set up a base for the attack as the fullbacks push up and the midfielder has to fall in deep to dictate play from the defence.
Connell can do that, but he will take some time to settle in as it was only just a few months ago that he made his debut at the Championship level. The Canaries will have a tough task ahead to lure Connell as quite a few clubs are after him given his contract situation.
