How Anis Ben Slimane really feels about his Norwich City future | OneFootball

The Tunisian international was one of the standout players under Philippe Clement in the second half of the season

Norwich City were a force to be reckoned with under Philippe Clement in the latter half of the 2025/26 campaign, and Anis Ben Slimane played an integral part in their rise up the division.

The Tunisian international has been recalled to his national team ahead of this summer's World Cup, a decision that seemed a long way away back in December, when he was left out of Sami Trabelsi's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

After joining from fellow Championship side Sheffield United on an initial loan deal in the summer of 2024, and then making the move to Carrow Road permanent midway through the campaign, he struggled to make an impact under Johannes Hoff Thorup and was a bit of an afterthought under Liam Manning.

Indeed, last summer, the 25-year-old was linked with a move away. Still, even when a move didn't materialise, Slimane made just one cameo appearance in the EFL Cup under Manning before going down with a quad injury in late September.

Fast forward to the end of the season, though, and Slimane is playing what he believes to be his best football under Philippe Clement, and his outlook on his Norwich future has definitely switched.

Anis Ben Slimane "happy" at Norwich City after World Cup recall

It still took Slimane a few months to truly re-establish himself in the Norwich fold under Clement as he worked his way back to fitness, but after scoring four and assisting once in a five-game spell in the Championship in January, he became an integral part of the squad once more.

In all competitions, the 25-year-old ended the campaign with 12 goal involvements, the best return of his career and the most he's managed since he made the move to England with Sheffield United in 2023.

Understandably, the new Tunisian manager and former Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City boss, Sabri Lamouchi, has included him in his squad for this summer's World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, and local Tunisian media questioned him about his resurgence at Carrow Road and whether he's looking to remain there past this summer.

Per the Pink Un, Slimane said, "You don't know, but I'm very happy to be in Norwich; everything can happen.

"I'm really, really happy with the coach. I think that I will stay, that's the plan for now, but you never know in football.

"I was injured for the first six months, came back in January, and now I have 12 goal involvements and a call-up to the national team for the World Cup. You can say that's probably one of my best seasons."

Slimane likely would have been angling for a move away if not for the trust that Philippe Clement instilled in him in the early months of 2026, proving that a lot can change over the course of a few months.

Therefore, Slimane clearly understands that another drastic change could occur over the summer, but if it doesn't, he'll be more than happy to stick around at Carrow Road.

Anis Ben Slimane is a perfect example of Philippe Clement's effect at Norwich City

Several Norwich players who were underperforming or who were in the shadows under Liam Manning or even under Johannes Hoff Thorup have come into the limelight since Philippe Clement took the reins in mid-November and, more importantly, have stayed there for long periods.

It's no secret the impact that the Belgian boss has had during his time at Carrow Road thus far, and ahead of his first pre-season at the club, a few critics are tipping Norwich to be among the promotion hunters next season.

Norwich would love for Slimane to be part of that, given the part he played in the Canaries' surge out of the relegation zone and up the table, as well as the club's run to the Round of 16 in the FA Cup.

But, outside the Tunisian, there have been numerous other key members of the Norwich side who are seemingly playing their best football under Clement and who the Canaries will be keen to keep at Carrow Road this summer.

A strong World Cup from Slimane may incur some interest from elsewhere, but fortunately for the Canaries, it doesn't seem that the 25-year-old will be angling for a move anytime soon.