"There’s a way of doing it" - Jon Rowe slammed for Norwich City conduct as £14m transfer nears | OneFootball

FLW's Norwich City fan pundit discussed Jon Rowe's imminent move to Marseille

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Jon Rowe is set to complete a move from Norwich City to Marseille, initially on a season-long loan but with the French side having an obligation to buy for the summer of 2025.

It's reported by the Pink Un that the Canaries are guaranteed a fee of £14million which includes a loan fee, as well as a potential £3 million worth of add-ons, and have inserted a 25% sell-on clause for the 21-year-old.

Rowe had looked destined for a move all summer, and the writing was on the wall for his career at Carrow Road after he withdrew from the squad to face Oxford United on the opening day of the season.

The winger burst onto the scene during the first half of last season, scoring 12 goals and registering two assists, but an injury sustained in February somewhat halted his impressive campaign, and he failed to register a goal or assist after returning in April.

Jon Rowe £14million fee dubbed good business for Norwich City

FLW's Norwich City fan pundit, Zeke Downes, believes that Rowe will be worth more than £14million in the years to come, but at the moment it's a good fee for the Canaries given the 21-year-old's lack of experience.

Speaking to Football League World, Zeke said: "The deal for Jon Rowe was looking like it was going to happen anyway, and I think it’s an okay fee because he’s not really played that much, he’s had half a good season.

“I think he’s probably long-term a better player than £14million. I know it could rise to a little bit more, but I would take that for half a season.

“It’s a big shame how it’s ended, because it looked as though he loved the club and everybody loved him, and it was really nice to have another youth player coming through and looking really exciting, so the fact it’s ended like this isn’t very nice.

“I do get that he wanted to leave and play for a better side, but there’s a way of doing it and that wasn’t really the way.”

Norwich City were left with no option but to let Jon Rowe leave

Norwich would have loved to keep Rowe at the club this summer, but withdrawing from the Canaries' squad to force a move elsewhere meant that he was always going to move on.

It's a shame for Norwich, and it means they've lost Gabriel Sara and Rowe, their two best players, but they've brought in a lot of money for the pair which will stand the club in good stead for the future.

By going to Marseille, Norwich aren't strengthening a rival like they would have been had Rowe joined Leeds, and there's no guarantee that the 21-year-old would have been able to replicate his impressive breakthrough campaign this time around anyway.

Losing Rowe, particularly so close to the end of the transfer window, is far from ideal for Norwich, but it looked inevitable.

The way Rowe has conducted himself in recent weeks would have left a sour taste in the mouths of some Norwich supporters, and despite his talent, it felt like there was no coming back for him at that point.

Norwich will miss Rowe this season, but they'll be glad to see him moving to France rather than a fellow English club.