Norwich City are edging closer to the signing of Sunderland starlet, Bali Mumba according to reports in the North East from the Sunderland Echo and reported here by the Daily Mail.
Mumba is only 18-years-old and considered to be one of the Black Cats’ best young prospects, having broken into the first team under former manager, Jack Ross aged just 16. Since then though and after the departure of Ross, Mumba has played just once in the EFL Trophy this season, spending the rest of his time with the U23s.
He reportedly has just one year left on his contract though and the Canaries have been quick to step in with a transfer offer that could rise to £500k depending on certain performance based criteria being met.
This has caused all sorts of upset among the “Mackems’” fan base, who feel that the fee is too low for such a promising young player. Mumba can play as a defensive midfielder but has spent most of his time with the U23s at right-back, perhaps suggesting that his best position is yet to be determined. This is clearly an all too familiar example of Norwich adding yet another young prospect to their academy, in-line with the club’s youth policy.
I imagine that selling the club to these young lads is quite easy, with the example of Daniel Farke being prepared to play Max Aarons, Jamal Lewis, Todd Cantwell and Ben Godfrey and trust them at a young age, making it look appealing. Aarons made his Championship debut aged just 18 against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Meanwhile, at a more senior end of the scale, Portsmouth manager, Kenny Jackett has confirmed that he is very interested in signing on-loan City defender, Sean Raggett as reported by The Pink ‘Un.
“We would be interested in keeping Sean here,” Jackett said. “Raggett and Burgess has been a good centre-back partnership for me. Our win rate when those two have been available has been very good.“
Portsmouth will now face Oxford United in a play-off semi-final after League One was curtailed last week in a vote by the clubs involved, with Raggett staying on to take part. He has one-year left on his Norwich deal if the Canaries make the decision to take up the one-year option that they have on his deal. Failing that, Raggett would be available for free.
OTBC