An interesting piece of transfer speculation appeared on Tuesday morning that links Norwich City with a summer move for Paderborn central defender, Sebastian Schonlou.
Paderborns Kapitän Sebastian #Schonlau soll ein Angebot vorliegen haben.@SCPaderborn07https://t.co/sjjrg4FA0l
— Westfalen-Blatt (@westfalenblatt) March 16, 2021
📰 German sources reporting Sebastian Schonlau may receive an offer from high flying Norwich City – his contract runs out at the end of the season. The rumour shouldn't be completely written off because the Paderborn-Norwich connection has existed a long time. #SCP07 #ncfc pic.twitter.com/MSxw9nsaFJ
— SC Paderborn 07 – English (Unofficial) (@SCPaderbornEN) March 16, 2021
It’s very easy to make the link with previous contact between the two clubs having seen Dennis Srbeny spend a couple of years in Norfolk before returning to the North Rhine-Westphalia club. The links continue in that Daniel Farke used to play for them and his son currently plays in the Paderborn youth team.
Schonlau is 26 years-old and crucially, he is out of contract in the summer, so would be available for nothing. Grant Hanley and Ben Gibson have been the first choice centre back partnership this season, with City committed to the permanent £8m signing of Gibson if, as seems likely, the Canaries are promoted at the end of the season. Christoph Zimmermann has been the back-up option and played a handful of times, finding the partnership ahead of him impossible to disrupt. If they are promoted, and drawing on our experience in the Premier League last time, we will need another centre-back and this lad seems to fit the bill.
He’s left footed, so could offer competition for Gibson and he has Bundesliga experience and did I mention that he’s going to be available for nothing?
If it happens you are getting a brilliant defender for absolutely nothing. Bundesliga experience too. Was one of the few really good players for us last season. He will do great for you imo.
— SC Paderborn 07 – English (Unofficial) (@SCPaderbornEN) March 16, 2021
OTBC