Carlisle United should pursue loan move for Norwich City forward: View | OneFootball

Carlisle United have a clear lack of raw pace in their team, and have done for some time, which should prompt them to take a look at getting Norwich City forward Ken Aboh on loan for the 2024/25 campaign.

The Blues were lacking in physical attributes across the pitch as they were relegated from League One to the fourth tier last season.

In the boxes and pretty much everywhere in between, Carlisle struggled to cope with the pillar-to-post beating they often received from the technically and physically more gifted opposition.

Before the 23/24 campaign had even ended, manager Paul Simpson had addressed this as an issue that needed to be sorted in the summer. They've already made a start at that by bringing former Wrexham AFC defender Aaron Hayden back to the club on a two-year deal as their first summer signing.

But it's not just the defence that needs sorting in this regard. With only Georgie Kelly and Luke Armstrong as the club's real strikers, there's a lack of diversity among Carlisle's forward options.

They need a point of difference in attack and Aboh could be that sort of player.

Ken Aboh: a potential summer loan option for Carlisle United

The 19-year-old forward had a very impressive season for the Canaries' under-21s side in the Premier League 2 last season. He netted 11 times across the campaign at a rate of a goal every 112 minutes, as per Sofascore.

So the ability to find the back of the net is certainly there, but there are aspects to his game that make him different from Carlisle's current options; namely, that ability to get in behind.

Terry Ablade brought that element to United last season, but injuries plagued his campaign and he didn't feature much. Even though his on-ball abilities and finishing were questionable, just having that threat of someone who couldn't be caught when they got going was scary for opposing defences.

Aboh doesn't look to be as quick as the young Fin, but he has that explosive trait in his locker.

He has made his professional debut for Norwich, coming off the bench for 10 minutes against Rotherham United in March. That's to go alongside the numerous unused sub appearances that he has had in the City first team too.

There are problems that Carlisle may have to overcome in order to get him in if that's a route they wanted to go down. The location could be an issue, going from East Anglia to Cumbria. The Blues have had a lot of players from London come and join them, but it's much easier to get to Brunton Park from the capital than it is from Norwich.

They have also tended to rely on their contacts within the industry when it comes to these temporary moves; Luke Plange - a former Derby County and current Crystal Palace forward - being the peak case of this.

United have only had one loanee from Norwich - Tyrese Omotoye - and that was before Simpson and Gregg Abbott's return.

Hurdles present themselves in almost every deal, but getting someone like Aboh is surely a must for the Blues this summer.

Carlisle may need to be patient in the summer transfer window

United's owners have already said that they will put £8.5 million into renovating Brunton Park, as well as the facilities surrounding the ground, and to build a new training centre for the club.

There's been no official indication of the transfer budget, but those numbers, and previous comments made by Tom Piatak, suggest that it will be a sizable one for the level.

Former Blues defender Jarrad Branthwaite could also help to fund the summer spending after i Sport revealed that Everton want at least £80 million for the 21-year-old and that Carlisle will receive 15% of any fee the Toffees receive for the defender.

Because of the magnitude of the price that Branthwaite's club want for him, and teams like Manchester United and Newcastle United loom, there's a high chance that they won't receive their full payout as soon as they may like.

If Everton sell him and agree that the buying club would pay for Branthwaite in installments, then Carlisle would receive their share in installments too.

The price is one that teams are going to try and haggle over too. This is likely to draw out any sale process towards the latter half of the transfer window. That, and his potential call-up to the England squad for the Euros, could mean that United have less time to use the money they may get.

Patience will be needed, especially if they feel like they'll be able to go that bit more all out towards the dying embers when this potential influx arrives.