Johannes Hoff Thorup, Ben Knapper may consider Norwich City exit for trio after Portsmouth success: View | OneFootball

Kellen Fisher, Liam Gibbs, and Tony Springett could all head out loan this summer to continue their development

Highlights

Kellen Fisher, Liam Gibbs, and Tony Springett could all leave Norwich City on loan this summer, as Johannes Hoff Thorup and Ben Knapper kick off the post-David Wagner in its earnest.

The German was sacked just days after the Canaries lost 4-0 to Leeds United in the second leg of their play-off semi-final and has since been replaced by Thorup, who led FC Nordsjaelland to a fourth-placed finish in the Danish Superliga last term.

Knapper, meanwhile, was appointed as Norwich's new sporting director at the end of November to replace Stuart Webber.

Thorup's first transfer window at Carrow Road promises to be a busy one, with the future of several key players still uncertain and a number of fringe players who could be loaned out.

Fisher, Gibbs and Springett may fall into the latter category, following a season during which they had limited opportunities to cement themselves into Wagner's plans.

Fisher played just 14 games across all competitions for the Canaries last term, racking up only three starts in the Championship, while Springett started one of his 10 league appearances before being loaned out to Northampton for the second half of the season.

Gibbs, meanwhile, featured in 27 games in all competitions but was largely used as a substitute and missed Norwich's last four games of the season and both legs of the semi-final against Leeds because of a thigh injury.

It leaves Thorup and Knapper with a dilemma ahead of the upcoming season and the pair will have to decide whether to give the young trio a chance to establish themselves at Carrow Road or loan them out in order to guarantee them regular football.

The latter option paid dividends for Abu Kamara, who scored eight goals and set up a further 10 in 46 league appearances while on loan at Portsmouth last season, helping Pompey to win promotion to the Championship.

Kamara is set to return to Carrow Road where, according to Portsmouth News, he has been "earmarked for a pathway into Norwich's first team".

Thorup would expect similar results were he to loan out any of Gibbs, Fisher, and Springett.

Tony Springett struggled on loan at Northampton

Last season was particularly frustrating for the former, who won the club’s young player-of-the-year award in his first campaign with Norwich, when he made 16 starts in the Championship and 37 league appearances overall.

But his development stalled under Wagner last season, and he will be desperate for a fresh start under Thorup, who in Denmark has developed a reputation for valuing academy products.

That is also expected to be good news for Fisher, who made his England Under-20 debut in a friendly against Sweden earlier this month.

The right-back arrived from non-league Bromley last summer but his performances early in the season convinced Wagner to allow Bali Mumba to make a permanent move to Plymouth Argyle and the 20-year-old should flourish under Thorup.

Springett, meanwhile, started just one of his 13 League One appearances at Northampton last term and his future remains unclear.

But in him, Fisher and Gibbs, Norwich have three unpolished gems, and it would not be surprising to see Thorup giving the latter pair a significant role in the team next season. Equally, Kamara's successful spell at Portsmouth is a timely reminder for the Canaries of how valuable loans can be for a player's development.