Norwich City are close to securing a season-long loan deal for Manchester City defender Callum Doyle.

The move has been agreed in principle with the Premier League champions, although Norwich are waiting for it to be rubber stamped before confirming Doyle's signing.

The 20-year-old can play at centre-back and left-back, addressing two of the Canaries' transfer priorities this summer. Sporting director Ben Knapper has been open about his work on the left side of defence, as has head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup.

The Dane offered a positive update on the search after Saturday's 3-0 pre-season win over Northampton Town, saying: "I think Ben was calling a lot of people these days. So yes I think something will happen soon." 

That now looks likely to be Doyle, for whom Norwich have beaten off competition from a number of Championship competitors.

Doyle has an array of experience in the second division, having spent the last two years on loan there with Coventry and Leicester.

He made 41 league appearances for the Sky Blues as they lost in the play-off final in the 2022-23 campaign, before enduring an injury-hit spell at the King Power Stadium as Enzo Maresca's side secured a title-winning promotion to the top flight. He played 23 games for the Foxes in total, scoring twice.

The English under-21 international is set to become Knapper's second signing of the transfer window, following fellow left-footer Jose Cordoba into the building at Carrow Road. The pair have an average age of less than 22, an encouraging sign for the former Arsenal loans manager's attempts to lower the age profile at Norwich.

They had tracked former Nordsjaelland left-back Martin Frese before his move to Verona last week, while Casa Pia's Leonardo Lelo is not a target they're pursuing despite being liked by Knapper.

Under-21 left-backs Lewis Shipley and Guilherme Montoia both featured in that Cobblers victory, as did versatile defender Waylon Renecke. Young prospect Lucien Mahovo was signed from Notts County earlier this month, but is not currently being considered for a first-team place.