Tom Lawrence, Norwich City transfer twist emerges - it hands Blackburn and Charlton boost | OneFootball

The ex-Wales international is not on Philippe Clement's transfer shortlist

A fresh transfer twist involving the race to lure former Welsh international, Tom Lawrence, back to the Championship has emerged involving current second tier strugglers, Norwich City.

According to the Pink'Un, the Canaries are not actively pushing for a deal which would see the 32-year-old winger reunite with his former Rangers boss, Philippe Clement, at Carrow Road.

This came just hours after initial reports surfaced linking Lawrence with the Norfolk club amongst a whole host of other Championship sides, who have been placed on red alert due to his current form and contract situation with Australian A-League side, Perth Glory, who he joined on a free transfer in October after a handful of months as a free agent following his own Ibrox exit.

Norwich's campaign has been one of immense frustration so far, with the East Anglian side unable to steer themselves clear from relegation danger under Clement's predecessor, Liam Manning - who was sacked in November - and now the Belgian, who is currently overseeing a critical transfer window, with the threat of a first stint in League One for 16 years continuing to hang over the club.

A minor recent upsurge has seen the Yellows bridge the previous gap to clubs outside the relegation zone to a matter of points. However, after a 2-0 defeat to Stoke City at Carrow Road in their last league outing, Norwich are still 22nd in the table and have played two games more than Portsmouth, who currently reside above City in 21st - the final spot outside the bottom three.

Plenty of previous transfer discourse generated in this part of the world has focused on whether Norwich would be able to retain the services of Josh Sargent, who has continuously been linked with a move to Premier League clubs and other top flight sides across Europe and, indeed, across the Atlantic.

Clement dropped an almighty bombshell on that predicament following Norwich's progression in the FA Cup third round against Walsall last Sunday, with Toronto FC of Major League Soccer attempting to lure the 25-year-old across the pond.

However, attention has now turned to who Clement is able to bolster his current ranks with, with Lawrence being namedropped as a potential bargain addition.

But, despite the fact he played some of the best football of his career under the 51-year-old, the aforementioned publication has quashed such claims.

With his time with Rangers coming to an end just weeks after the Light Blues parted company with Clement in March 2025, several clubs in the Championship and League One became linked with the 23-cap international, whose services were available on a free transfer for some time.

However, after a move failed to materialise, Lawrence linked up with his current employers a week before their A-League campaign began with a 2-2 draw against Wellington Phoenix at HBF Park.

The ex-Manchester United academy graduate's first appearance came through a 45-minute cameo against Melbourne Victory in a 2-0 defeat on October 31st, before scoring his maiden goal for Perth in a 2-1 away victory against Newcastle Jets three weeks later.

Since his move was confirmed in the autumn, Lawrence has been in inspired form for Glory, despite the fact they replaced the man who lured him to Oceania, David Zdrilic, with current head coach, Adam Griffiths.

The experienced figure has played just nine times for the club thus far, but has netted five goals and posted two assists, with his standout performance seeing him net a hat-trick against 2024 champions, Melbourne City on December 28th, before scoring and posting an assist in the 3-0 win over Central Coast Mariners last weekend.

It was reported by the Daily Mail that Lawrence had become the subject of interest from Norwich, his former loan club, Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic, who are managed by compatriot, Nathan Jones.

Whilst it was claimed that any three of the clubs could strike a bargain £130,000 deal for Lawrence whilst Perth attempt to tie him down to an extended contract, it has now been revealed that he will not be moving to Carrow Road, despite Clement continuing his search for attacking reinforcements.

The aforementioned news will certainly offer encouragement to Valerien Ismael and Jones, with Blackburn and Charlton in need of further creative reinforcements.

The Addicks, in particular, have minimal depth out wide and in attacking midfield areas, with Jones recently losing the availability of former Norwich cult hero, Onel Hernandez, to injury, with the Cuban joining on a free transfer in the early weeks of the campaign after also being on the free agent market.