Norwich City can find Ali Ahmed 2.0: Adrian Blake & Lewis Koumas must be looked at | OneFootball

Norwich City could be forced into the market for a new winger after Ali Ahmed suffered an ACL injury in pre-season.

Norwich City were dealt a huge blow in the build-up to the 2026/27 Championship season after Ali Ahmed ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

The winger joined the Canaries in January, and he certainly made his mark at Carrow Road, scoring four goals and registering three assists as Philippe Clement’s side enjoyed a remarkable second half of the campaign.

So, Ahmed would’ve expected to play a big role for Norwich this season, but, sadly for the Canadian international, the ACL injury he picked up in the friendly against Osasuna means he is unlikely to play much of a part.

That’s not the news that Clement wanted, and it’s a real shame for Ahmed, as there is real optimism at the Norfolk outfit right now, as they believe promotion to the Premier League is possible under Clement.

But, these things happen in football, and the nature of the 25-year-old’s injury could force a rethink with the recruitment team at Norwich in terms of where they need to strengthen.

With that in mind, we look at TWO replacements Norwich must consider after Ahmed’s injury setback…

Adrian Blake

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The 21-year-old started out at Watford, where he was very highly-rated, but Blake opted to move to the Netherlands when he joined Utrecht in the summer of 2023.

Since then, Blake has shown flashes of his undoubted ability, and he has gone on to make over 50 appearances for the Dutch side.

But, there are doubts about his future, and it has been suggested that Blake is on the radar of Celtic, a club he scored against in Europe last season.

However, Norwich could swoop in, and the prospect of linking up with the Canaries will surely appeal, as Clement plays the sort of fast, attacking football that could allow the youngster to flourish. Plus, his energy and ability to press means he offers what the boss wants off the ball too.

As well as that, he fits the profile that Norwich would want in terms of his age and room for development, so Blake ticks a lot of boxes, and he could be a shrewd signing for the club to replace Ahmed.

Lewis Koumas

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The Liverpool attacker has had loan spells in the Championship with Stoke, Birmingham and Hull City over the years, and, in truth, he hasn’t truly excelled at any club.

Despite that, Koumas remains highly-rated at Anfield, and he has been very impressive for Andoni Iraola’s side in pre-season. Nevertheless, a summer loan move seems the most realistic outcome, and Norwich could be the perfect fit.

Again, Clement’s ability to improve individuals could make Norwich the ideal place for Koumas to develop, and that’s something that Liverpool will take into consideration when deciding his next move.

At his best, Koumas is someone who brings creativity and unpredictability in the final third, and whilst he could replace Ahmed on the left, he is also capable of playing in different attacking roles.

The 20-year-old is clearly talented, so it could be a low-risk, high-reward deal if Norwich do bring him in for the campaign to cope with Ahmed’s absence.