Norwich City: Ben Knapper should lean on Arsenal links to sign attacker compared to Bukayo Saka: View | OneFootball

Ben Knapper has enjoyed a quiet start to life at Norwich City.

The Canaries’ sporting director joined the club at the end of 2023, replacing Stuart Webber in the role after his six-year tenure came to an end.

The role requires Knapper to be heavily involved in player recruitment, as well as deciding which coach is best to take the club forward.

Despite David Wagner coming under a lot of scrutiny from supporters around the time of his November appointment, he stuck with the German and looks to have been rewarded with an impressive second half of the campaign.

Wagner is now just four games away from guiding the Norfolk outfit to a play-off place, with the weekend's 1-0 win over Ipswich Town also helping dent their bitter rivals’ own promotion hopes for good measure.

Summer planning should be underway at Norwich

But the upcoming summer transfer window will be a true test of Knapper’s credentials for the role.

It could be a busy few months for the club with the market set to re-open at the end of the season.

One player that Norwich could look to sign is Arsenal youngster Amario Cozier-Duberry, who has drawn comparisons to Bukayo Saka with his performances at youth level.

Jack Wilshere is now a youth coach at the north London club and has seen firsthand the talent the teenager possesses.

The former midfielder has compared him to the Arsenal right-winger, but claims he isn’t quite ready for Mikel Arteta’s first-team squad.

“His super-strengths are his ball-carrying and ability to take people on,” said Wilshere, via The Athletic.

“He’s an exciting footballer, but [has] loads to learn.

“Amario is very exciting and Mikel likes him.

“He reminds me of Bukayo Saka, plays in the same position as him, needs to get better with his decision-making like Bukayo did, but he’s definitely exciting.

“In some moments he’s unplayable. You give him the ball and he can make things happen.

“You can set up a team and have a game plan, but when you’ve got individuals like that you’ve got a chance.”

Given Knapper has connections with Arsenal, the Canaries could have the edge in any race for his loan signature this summer.

Adding someone of this potential to Wagner’s side would be a smart move to bolster their attack.

Knapper was the loan manager during his time with the Gunners, so will know the youth setup at the club and the stars within it very well.

Cozier-Duberry needs first-team experience at a senior level in order to make his breakthrough into Arteta’s side, especially given the strength of their options out wide.

With minutes unlikely to come at Arsenal, a loan move in the summer would make a lot of sense.

Norwich could be an ideal landing spot, as Wagner has shown a willingness to play young stars this season with his introduction of Jonathan Rowe to the first team.

Rowe has proven to be a standout figure for the side and has developed into a top talent under the Norwich boss.

He has contributed an impressive 12 goals and two assists from 28 appearances in the Championship (all stats from Fbref), highlighting Wagner's credentials as a coach capable of bringing through and improving younger stars.

While Norwich may earn Premier League promotion through the play-offs, it is likelier that they will be targeting a top two spot in the Championship next season and you have to feel a player of Cozier-Duberry’s ability would be a very useful asset for that charge.