Philippe Clement makes Norwich City transfer demand of Ben Knapper clear | OneFootball

Philippe Clement insists that investment must be made for Norwich City to improve next season

Norwich City have comfortably been a play-off level team since Philippe Clement took over in mid-November, but a disastrous start under Liam Manning preceding that has meant that their top six push fell just before the final hurdle.

The Canaries were unable to keep themselves in the hunt for sixth place on the final day after dropping points against Swansea City on Saturday, but while it was a disappointing result on paper, the main feeling at Carrow Road at full-time was overly positive.

Norwich were 23rd when Clement took over on November 18, so to be in a position where a top-10 finish is secured before the final day just outlines how far they have come in such a short period of time.

When factoring in the number of injuries the Belgian boss has had to navigate, plus the transfer saga surrounding star man Josh Sargent in the January window, it emphasises what a good job he has done, too.

A lot of critics feel that if Norwich stay as they are next season, personnel-wise, they'll be a shoo-in for a spot in the extended play-offs and could even push for automatic promotion, but Clement isn't allowing the club to rest on their laurels.

Philippe Clement demands Norwich City investment this summer

Per a report from The Pink Un, Norwich boss Philippe Clement believes that the Canaries squad must be improved even further to ensure that they are in the mix for promotion next season.

"We need investment to make the next steps," he said. "You cannot say, 'Okay, we're going to need to continue working to make these players better.' We need to get extra quality to help with that process.

"The good thing is that the owner sees it as a long-term project, and it's not about now, or it's finished. You can build things along the way. We have big ambitions to push towards Ben [Knapper] and the recruitment team, to get the right players in.

"It's going to be important in these holidays to look at the players, to speak with them, to be in touch with everybody at the club, so that we can do the best things possible with the budget that we have.

"I'm really hungry for next season, to make it better, to develop players again together with my staff, and to get a few extra players to also raise certain qualities that we lacked. Then we will see how strong opponents are, because that we don't know.

"We don't know yet the full story on who's going to drop from the Premier League. We don't know how much investment other teams in the league will make, so we will see."

Indeed, one established top-flight side in Wolves will be making their Championship return in the summer, and barring a total collapse from Leeds United, another one may be joining them; one who has a recent European pedigree, too.

Plus, the inevitable upgrading that the likes of Birmingham City and, if not promoted this year, Wrexham will do, and the fact that the extra two play-off spots will make teams invest in trying to crack into a more achievable top-eight position, next season's Championship is looking to be even more competitive than ever.

Teams will have to be on their toes to keep up with their rivals in the transfer market, and while Norwich are arguably out in front already, there'll be work to do to ensure that remains true this time next year.

Philippe Clement calls for "unity" in quest for Norwich City success

Alongside the need to upgrade playing personnel, Clement has called for his staff and his fans to retain the belief and unity in the club currently, to help the players achieve the lofty expectations that the Belgian boss will set out next season.

"That needs to be the thing with the ambition this club has to evolve and become better," he added. "It's about us trying to get the maximum out of the quality that's in the squad, and to keep on working, and to keep this unity in the dressing room and in the building.

"I need to thank all my staff for the way they stepped into my story, and the way they supported me, and also the fans.

"That's the big challenge for next season, to show this unity again, and then you see how amazing things can be."

It's definitely exciting times at Norwich currently, with the hope being that the club can kick on next season and make a return to the play-offs after a couple of years away, and potentially even make a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2022.

For that success to be achieved at Carrow Road next season, it's not just the players who need to be together; the entire club needs to be, too. Luckily enough, that's definitely been the case so far under Clement, and it doesn't seem like that will change any time soon.