Norwich City: Lyle Taylor backs Jon Rowe over controversial decision after Charlton Athletic escapade | OneFootball

Lyle Taylor gave his verdict on Jon Rowe's decision not to play for Norwich City amid his transfer to Marseille.

Former Charlton Athletic striker Lyle Taylor believes that Norwich City winger Jonathan Rowe is doing nothing wrong by refusing to play for his current club, as he looks to seal a move away from Carrow Road.

The Canaries winger has been a target for Championship promotion hopefuls Leeds United since Crysencio Summerville departed the Whites earlier this month.

However, it appears that Daniel Farke's side will miss out, as Ligue 1 club Marseille have offered a loan with a buy obligation, with the fee around the £13.5 million mark.

Currently, it is not understood whether this meets the East Anglian's valuation, but with Rennes sniffing about as well, it seems only a matter of time until he departs Carrow Road.

For Rowe, this will be exactly what he wants, with the youngster not being involved in either of the matchday squads so far this season, having pulled out of being involved of their season opener against Oxford United on the morning of the game - an action that has prompted Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup to send the winger to train with the U21's.

Whether Rowe's decision ultimately secures him a move away remains to be seen, but the exciting attacker will be hopeful that it forces the hand of the Norwich hierarchy.

Lyle Taylor issues verdict on Jon Rowe's Norwich City decision after similar Charlton saga

Taylor gave his verdict on Rowe's decision, citing his previous experience at Charlton Athletic where he declined to play to avoid injury ahead of a move to Nottingham Forest - at a time where many players temporarily extended their contracts due to the 2019-20 season finishing later than normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Loyalty in football doesn't exist, because when a team, a football club or a set of fans don't like a player, they want the player out, and they say the player is stealing a living," Taylor told BBC 5 Live.

"If the player does well and refuses to sign a new contract, that player is a Judas.

"If a player then decides to leave to better themselves in their career and life, then that player is a Judas

"The people who make the decisions and the senior players in the group are going 'Look, we know what you've got there (Nottingham Forest), you've come off the back of an injury. You can't risk this'."

The former Addicks striker continued to speak about how an injury clause within his contract made it more difficult for him to depart and that himself and the club went through many different options to find a solution.

Taylor added: "The fact that there was an owner of the football club (Charlton), who didn't want to put his hand in his pocket to make those things possible, to make those things happen, stopped it from happening.

"I had to make a decision that was best for me. The club had already made a decision that it was best for them to not sell me twice, even though the price had been set. The price was topped five times in the summer before and that was topped again in January for what they wanted.

"At the end of the day I'm still Judas, because I made a decision for me."

Lyle Taylor and Jon Rowe parallels are clear as transfer saga rumbles on

The situation that Rowe finds himself in has many similarities to the one that Taylor endured during his time at Charlton in 2020.

For the former Addicks man, his feud with Charlton eventually saw him come out on top as he made the move to Forest following the expiry of his deal at The Valley.

Rowe will be eager for a similar outcome, and although transfer fees are involved, his refusal should push Norwich to sell him.

A future fee of £13.5 million should be more than suitable for the Canaries, with Rowe only having one season of Championship experience, but they could get more given Leeds are still hovering, and Stade Rennais have now entered the race.

Albeit it was a brilliant season, there’s no guarantee he’ll replicate those numbers under Hoff Thorup. Moreover, the substantial fees Norwich have recently received for their players mean they can afford to find multiple replacements, so they shouldn’t view Rowe’s transfer as the be-all and end-all.

For Norwich fans they may never forgive him and Rowe could be treated as a "Judas" for years to come - much like Taylor was when refusing to pull on the Charlton shirt, although it will be easier if the winger moves abroad as he will not have the chance to come back to haunt the Canaries.