Norwich City and West Brom tussling for Ajax centre-back - Canaries have edged ahead in the battle | OneFootball

Norwich City have been linked with further defensive reinforcement this transfer window

Norwich City are currently leading West Brom in the race to sign Jakov Medic from Ajax this summer.

According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, the Canaries are the favourites to seal the defender’s signature when he returns from his loan spell with Bochum.

The 26-year-old joined the Eredivisie side in the 20223 summer transfer window from St. Pauli, but has struggled to assert himself as part of the first-team squad.

He spent last season on loan with German side Bochum, featuring 23 times in the Bundesliga as the team suffered relegation to the second tier.

Norwich City eye Ajax defender Jakov Medic but West Brom also keen

Norwich are reportedly leading West Brom, and a number of German clubs, in the race to sign Medic from Ajax.

It’s believed that the top flight club could be seeking around €3 million (£2.6 million), which is roughly what they paid to sign him two years ago.

Norwich are looking to bolster their options this summer after an underwhelming 14th place finish in the Championship last season.

Liam Manning has been appointed as manager, with the Canaries already adding Harry Darling to their squad, signing the highly sought-after Cambridge-born man as a free agent from Swansea City.

Despite adding another centre-back to the squad, it’s been reported by Norfolk publication Pink Un that Norwich outfit are hoping to still bolster their options defensively this transfer window.

West Brom are also looking to sign the Croatian, with Ryan Mason now in charge at The Hawthorns, having lost experienced Semi Ajayi this summer on a free transfer, with the likelhood being that the Nigerian signs for Hull City.

Norwich City’s summer business so far

Along with the signing of Darling, Norwich have also completed moves for Daniel Grimshaw and Jacob Wright.

Wright spent the second half of last season on loan at Carrow Road, and has now completed a permanent move to the Championship side.

It is still early days in the transfer window, with the transfer window only starting at the beginning of June, but Manning is looking to get new faces through the door as soon as he possibly can.

Defensive reinforcements are needed at Norwich City - Jakov Medic could fit the bill

Callum Doyle’s loan spell at Norwich ended with the conclusion of the season, leaving them a little light at the back going into next season.

It may be too soon for Brad Hills to feature in the Championship under Manning following a loan stint with Stockport County, Shane Duffy is now 33 and January signing from Brighton Ruairi McConville has only played eight times for the club.

Adding Darling was a good piece of business, especially as a free agent, but the addition of Medic might still be needed.

He earned Bundesliga experience last season, and could be a solid option to add some depth at centre-back to bolster Manning’s defence after that proved an issue area of the squad under Johannes Hoff Thorup.