After talks with Premier League teams West Ham and Crystal Palace, Leeds United appears set to miss out
on Norwich City’s £15 million-rated star Jonathan Rowe. Exclusive from Graeme Bailey: The England Under 21 international looks closer than ever to securing his departure from Carrow Road after being left out of the Norwich City squad again for Saturday’s thrilling 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers.
HITC is aware that Jonathan Rowe has made it known to both Norwich and his own agents that he is determined to join the mighty Marseille of France.
When Brighton and Hove Albion scouted Rowe last season—a prospect with Premier League potential—Roberto de Zerbi was the team’s head coach.
Now that he’s in the Marseille dugout, De Zerbi has effectively bent the 21-year-old’s ego by persuading him that the Stade Velodrome would be the best location for him to advance his career.
Marseille is now prepared to complete the transaction. He will be the latest player to depart England for the 1993 European Champions, behind Mason Greenwood and Tottenham Hotspur loanee Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Marseille made an attempt to sign Eddie Nketiah as well, but they were unable to meet Arsenal’s demands.
Regarding Rowe, HITC has been informed that two birds were turned down by Leeds United. Both fell short of Norwich’s £15 million demand.West Ham and Crystal Palace, two Premier League teams with a strong history of acquiring the finest young players in the Football League, also had talks with Rowe. However, Rowe will not be joining the likes of Ebere Eze, Michael Olise, or Adam Wharton, as Marseille is expected to be his final destination. HITC understands that, unlike Leeds, neither West Ham nor Crystal Palace made a bid. “It’s been tough for him. We knew that when we took the decision,” Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup said prior to that Blackburn game, as reported by the Lancashire Telegraph.”We’ll support Jonny in the best way; he wants to talk to his teammates and will meet with us soon. Then, we will sit down and look at the next steps.” The Canaries are closing in on a potential replacement in Ante Crnac, who scored 11 goals and set up five more in his final season in Poland. They are also prepared to accept an initial loan deal, albeit one that includes an obligation-to-buy clause that will ensure them a sizable windfall later on.
At Elland Road Championship rivals Leeds, Daniel Farke needs new additions. Meanwhile, Leeds could have a busy final few days of the transfer season.
Though they have made significant financial gains with the sales of Archie Gray to Tottenham, Georginio Rutter to Brighton, and Crysencio Summerville to West Ham, Daniel Farke’s team only has three new players: loanee Joe Rothwell, backup goalkeeper Alex Cairns, and £5 million defender Jayden Bogle.
After Rutter secured a £40 million transfer to Brighton, Farke tells Leeds Live, “We need cover at full-back, a midfielder, a winger or offensive player.” And another attacking player, following Georgi.Although it is easier to find players with the right mentality and personality in the Premier League, it is still difficult to find players of this caliber here. “This is what we work on. I know our key people are working hard behind the scenes. I know when there are no incomings there is stress, but I talk to them every day and they know what I want. I am cautiously optimistic something will happen.”
