Norwich City close in on Emiliano Marcondes signing

The Danish international has agreed a deal until the end of the current season with the option for a further year. 

It will be a reunion for Marcondes with City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup, with the pair having previously worked together during a stint at Nordsjaelland in 2019. The pair have been speaking throughout the summer about the possibility of reconnecting at Carrow Road if the opportunity arose. 

As first reported by the Pink Un earlier this week, Norwich have been searching for attacking reinforcements after injuries to Ashley Barnes and Onel Hernandez have left their frontline options light. 

Hernandez is set to be absent for nearly 10 weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury in the 4-1 win over Watford, while Thorup has declined to place a timeframe on Barnes’ recovery from an Achilles injury, but confirmed in his pre-Leeds press conference that he was back in a protective boot.

That has left City looking for a free transfer to fill the void left by those sidelined, with Marcondes quickly emerging as their preferred option. Thorup confirmed to Danish outlet Tipsbladet last month that the 29-year-old was a player of interest. 

"Well, I'm talking to E, and I've talked to him quite a bit," Thorup said. "What is important to him is that he gets to take a step in his career for a longer level than six months or a year ahead. He needs to find a place he can be for the next two or three years.

Marcondes has made 98 appearances in the Championship. (Image: PA) "As a club, we had to find out how he would fit into that strategy and how he would fit into our plans. Immediately it wasn't exactly something we lacked, but you never know in this world of football, and E and I talk as often as we can, because he is a great person and a good footballer who has done a lot for that club that I come from. 

"Of course he will be interesting, but for the strategy we have laid out, he does not fit in 100 percent. He wants to raise the average age, and we have lowered the average age in our squad and starting line-up. If we have to bring in something that does not fit 100 percent into the strategy, then it must be because it is something we specifically lack in a position or as support for some players. But he is, of course, interesting and someone we always keep an eye on."

Clubs are permitted to sign free agents at any time, be it inside or outside a transfer window, but only if there is a space for them to be registered within a 25-man squad. City have two available slots after naming a 23-man squad last month. 

Marcondes has been without a club after being released by Bournemouth in June. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Scottish Premiership club Hibernian.