Norwich City to consider attacking free agent swoop

The Canaries could turn to the market for options after Ashley Barnes suffered a setback in his recovery, and Onel Hernandez was sidelined until December due to a hamstring injury. 

Barnes is now back in a protective boot, and Thorup couldn't rule out the need for further surgery when providing an update on him last week. Christian Fassnacht is closer to a return to Championship action, having returned to training alongside midfielder Jacob Sorensen. 

That has left little support for frontline options like Josh Sargent, Ante Crnac and Borja Sainz, leaving Norwich to weigh up dipping into the free agent market for potential recruits. 

One name understood to have been discussed internally is ex-Bournemouth attacker Emiliano Marcondes, who was linked with a move to Carrow Road over the summer and is well-known to head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup. 

Marcondes is still without a club having left Bournemouth earlier in the summer after a loan spell with Scottish Premier League Hibernian, but other options are being considered and any recruit would need to be able to hit the ground running rather than require a long period to get up to speed. 

Thorup worked with Marcondes, 29, at Nordsjaelland and, although no move is thought to be close at this stage, the City boss didn't rule out a potential swoop for the Danish international when asked by Tipsbladet about the speculation last month.  

"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.

Emiliano Marcondes is currently without a club. (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.