Norwich City fans must be scratching their heads at £35m Arsenal transfer talk | OneFootball

Norwich City supporters must be wondering where they went wrong with Arsenal-bound Christos Tzolis

Norwich City head into the 2026/27 Championship campaign with a boatload of optimism, as the Canaries aim to continue their stark upward trajectory ever since the appointment of Phillipe Clement in November.

Norwich endured a truly excellent second half of the season last time around after an abysmal first half, with the introduction of former Monaco and Rangers boss Clement changing the club's fortunes around and then some.

The Belgian won 19, drew five, and lost ten of his 34 games in charge thus far, and had they appointed him sooner, they could well have made their way into the top six.

The additions of Ali Ahmed, Mohamed Toure, and Sam Field in the January window were all hits, as the latter has since joined the club on a permanent deal from Queens Park Rangers for a potential £2.8 million, whilst Bruno Alves has joined on loan from Cruzeiro, and Jamaican winger Andre Brooks from Sheffield United for around £8 million.

No sales have been sanctioned as yet, though with the Canaries top-heavy in their squad building, attacking departures are expected, as Clement will be urged to not make a similar mistake made two years ago, and one that recent transfer news will surely be making those at the club wince at.

Norwich City sold Christos Tzolis for pennies as Club Brugge winger closes in on £35 million Arsenal switch

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Attackers ought not to be on Clement's list of priorities this summer window, with Norwich possessing a plethora of talent in the final third.

The likes of Mohamed Toure, Mathias Kvistgaarden, Oscar Schwartau, Jovon Makama, Ali Ahmed, Forson Amankwah, Ante Crnan, Metej Jurasek, Anis Ben Slimane, and now Andre Brooks will all be vying for a place in Clement's preferred 4-2-3-1 next season, with only four at a time making the cut.

It should go without saying, therefore, that exits are expected at Carrow Road, but the Belgian head coach must ensure they don't make a similar mistake to the one they made with former Greek winger Christos Tzolis.

Tzolis joined Norwich in the summer of 2021 from PAOK for around £10 million following their return to the Premier League under Daniel Farke, signing a five-year deal at Carrow Road after a season in which he scored 16 and assisted ten in 46 games across all competitions for the Greek side.

However, for one reason or another, his time in Norfolk didn't go to plan, as the winger managed just over 300 Premier League minutes in 14 games during his first season at the club, and would be sent out on loan to FC Twente the following summer.

Six months in the Netherlands yielded few minutes, too, as Tzolis returned to Norwich, now in the Championship, where he again failed to make the desired impact, and would once again leave on loan the following summer, this time to Fortuna Dusseldorf.

In Germany, Tzolis exploded into life, hitting a staggering 24 goals and ten assists in 37 games across all competitions, with Fortuna triggering his €3.5 million (£3 million) buyout clause before Club Brugge signed him just days later for just €6 million (£5.1 million).

43 goals and 45 assists in 108 appearances in Belgium since then have seen the 24-year-old become one of the most coveted wingers in all of Europe, with the Greek international playing a starring role in Club Brugge's domestic treble last season.

A move to England is reportedly edging ever nearer, with Arsenal ready to pay up to £35 million to bring him to the Emirates this summer to replace the Besiktas-bound Leandro Trossard.

The Premier League Champions are looking to add another option to Gabriel Martinelli on the left flank, and have outlined the former Norwich flop as their primary target.

Having scored just three goals and assisted twice in 30 games in Norwich colours, Tzolis is set for a mega-money move to the Emirates this summer, where he will be hoping to take the Premier League by storm this time around.

Canaries fans will be scratching their heads, wondering where they went so wrong with the Greek international, and more importantly, will be hoping a similar mistake is not made with any of their current crop this summer.

Philippe Clement must ensure similar mistakes are not made at Norwich City this summer to avoid another Christos Tzolis blunder

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With news of Tzolis' impending return to England, Norwich will be frustrated that things didn't work out with the Greek in Norfolk following his trajectory since.

With so much attacking talent in their current ranks, Clement will have a hugely difficult job accommodating them all, and may be forced to sell one or two this summer as a result.

If that is indeed the case, the Belgian must ensure that they don't make a similar mistake to that of Tzolis, as either one of Jurasek, Schwartau, Kvistgaarden, Crnac, or Amankwah has the potential to shine elsewhere.

It's a tough spot for Clement to be in, but one Norwich supporters will be confident that he can make the correct decision in, and not follow in the footsteps of his predecessors with Tzolis.