Real Sociedad and Atalanta are monitoring the situation of Norwich City star Dimitris Giannoulis with an eye towards a summer move, according to Greek outlet Sportime.

Giannoulis was on loan at Norwich for the second half of last season and with 16 appearances for the Canaries he helped them get promoted to the Premier League.  His loan deal contained a clause that the Canaries would have to buy him if they got promoted and thus in the summer, the left-back made his move permanent.

Giannoulis has been less impressive this season, starting only seven matches so far in the league and he is now of interest to clubs outside of England.

Both Real Sociedad and Atalanta have taken an interest in the player and could move for him in the summer after watching him.

The duo are both reported to be contemplating a loan move for the left-back in the summer and with his lack of game-time this season, it remains to be seen whether he moves in the summer.

Giannoulis has made just one appearance in the league this year and that was a 10-minute cameo off the bench in mid-January.

The Canaries are bottom of the table and relegation remains a distinct possibility, but Giannoulis could be on the move in the summer.

Norwich City attacker Onel Hernandez is already on Lee Bowyer's summer transfer wishlist after his eye-catching loan impact at Birmingham City.

Hernandez was again a stand out performer for the hosts in Saturday's 2-0 Championship defeat to promotion hopefuls Huddersfield, and has notched three goals in 11 appearances since a mid-season switch.

The Cuban international, who is under contract at Carrow Road until 2023, endured a frustrating spell at Middlesbrough but is already a hit in the Midlands.

“I’d love to get him on a permanent,” said Bowyer, in his post-match reaction. “I think he was very good again today.

“But the likelihood of that happening I don’t know, that’s something that Craig (Gardner) will have to speak to Norwich about - well, now.

“We’ll have to see but I don’t know if that will even be possible.

Dean Smith believes Norwich are continuing to prove the critics wrong after their battling and well deserved FA Cup fourth round win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Kenny McLean’s header in first half injury time proved sufficient to claim a 1-0 win in a drab contest away at Molineux.

The Canaries were bottom of the Premier League over Christmas and fully written off in some sections of the media but have now won four of their last five games in all competitions, with the victory yesterday being the theird consecutive win.

That impressive upturn in form has seen Norwich move out of the relegation zone and into the fifth round of the FA Cup for just the second time in a decade.

Smith praised the response of his players to what he felt was unfair criticism, which came at a time when the Norwich squad was ripped to shreds by a combination of both injuries and coronavirus.

“I always said I thought we were harshly judged in the Christmas period and now we are starting to get a better squad together,” he said.

“The players were hurt by it and wanted to prove people wrong and they are doing that at the moment.

“I think it is hard enough for any team that are newly-promoted to win football games in the league.

“When we had nine players missing, it makes it nigh-on impossible but we have come through that period now and got some players back.

“We got a lot of negativity from outside and spoke ourselves about creating a siege mentality and being strong.”

McLean’s looping header from a Billy Gilmour free-kick on the stroke of half-time proved to be the difference between the two top-flight outfits, with Smith once again pleased with the display.

“It was a hard-fought win,” he added.

“We had to weather a storm in the second-half. I thought we defended in good numbers, showed good discipline and were a threat ourselves on the ball.

“I just feel that there is a sturdiness to the team, they look like they are enjoying their football, enjoying defending and counter-attacking when you have to.”

 

Kenny McLean scored his second goal of the season to send Norwich City into the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup with a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Scottish international produced a superb flicked header to give the Canaries the lead before the break which the team then hung onto in the second half with a resolute defensive performance.

Norwich made five changes from the side that had beaten Watford in the Premier League last time out as Michael McGovern, Sam Byram, Billy Gilmour, Przemysław Płacheta and McLean came into the side. There was also a place on the bench for Mathias Normann, who has been out since mid-November through injury.

In what was a first half of few chances, it was the Canaries who had all the efforts on target with McGovern not forced to make a stop in the opening 45 minutes.

Norwich’s first chance came after 15 minutes when Milot Rashica fed a pass into Adam Idah, who raced through on goal before bringing a good save out of John Ruddy.

Idah then turned provider a minute later as he picked up the ball out wide, but his low cross into the area was behind the run of Rashica and the home side cleared. At the other end Wolves were struggling to create anything of note with only a Fábio Silva deflected shot and a wayward strike from Ruben Néves threatening the visitors goal.

Then as the half drew to a close Rashica fed Idah again to give the Irish striker a sight of goal, but after some neat footwork on the edge of the box he fired an effort straight at Ruddy.

The second half started with Wolves on the front foot as Leander Dendoncker fizzed a cross into the box but there was no home player there to attack the ball.

Rashica then cut in from the left and let fly with a shot from distance but it was high and wide of Ruddy's goal. However, it was Wolverhampton who had three chances in quick succession to equalise around the 55th minute mark.

First Daniel Podence controlled a Semedo cross into the box and then sent a shot off the inside of the post and into the arms of McGovern. Then Semedo sent a shot straight at McGovern before Néves played in Podence whose shot was blocked by Hanley.

Wolves then brought on Raúl Jiménez for Gomes and switched to a 4-3-3 formation. Minutes later Dean Smith made a double change bringing on Normann for McLean and Teemu Pukki for Idah.

Norwich then had a great chance to grab a second on 75 minutes as Płacheta played a perfectly-timed ball into Rashica but Semedo made superbly-timed interception to deny the Kosovan a shot at goal.

The Canaries then had to soak up a lot of pressure but had another chance to grab a second on 86 minutes when substitute Kieran Dowell played a neat one-two with Pukki before bringing a world-class save out of Ruddy.

In truth it did not matter as Wolves only had a wayward shot from Neves in the minutes that remained as Norwich held on for a fourth win from the last five games in all competitions.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ruddy; Kilman, Coady, Gomes (Jiménez, 64); Nélson Semedo, Dendoncker, Neves, João Moutinho, Aït Nouri; Fábio Silva, Podence.

Subs not used: Sá, Hoever, Marçal, Tomás Oliveira, Cundle, Campbell.

Norwich City: McGovern; Byram, Gibson, Hanley, Williams; Gilmour (Dowell, 71), Lees-Melou, McLean (Normann, 66); Płacheta, Idah (Pukki, 66), Rashica (Rowe, 81).

Subs not used: Gunn, McCracken, Aarons, Tzolis, Giannoulis.

Goals: McLean (44)

Bookings: Hanley (15), Lees-Melou (28), McLean (50), Williams (78), Normann (80).

HT: 0-1

Cardiff City are set to sign Jordan Hugill on loan from Norwich City, with the striker’s spell at West Brom coming to an end early according to reports emerging fromt The Telegraph today.

Hugill has spent the first-half of the season on loan at West Brom, however the signings of Daryl Dike and Andy Carroll this January have left him further down the pecking order than he was already.

The 29-year-old has started only seven times in the Championship and scored one league goal in October’s 3-0 win over Bristol City.

Despite the struggle during his time with West Brom, Hugill has previous excelled at Championship level.

Between 2016 and 2018, he scored 20 league goals for Preston North End, earning himself a move to West Ham United.

However, he failed to make an impact in the Premier League and has had loans with Middlesbrough and QPR – who he struck 13 goals for in 2019/20 – before joining Norwich.

The striker scored four goals for the Canaries last season as they stormed to the Championship title and promotion back to the Premier League.

Cardiff, who are now managed by Steve Morison, have signed Cody Drameh on loan from Leeds United, as well as Tommy Doyle from Manchester City.

Norwich City loans manager Andrew Hughes says Jordan Hugill will not be recalled from West Brom and the striker is happy to fight for his place there having joined the Baggies on a season-long loan last summer. He has however scored just one goal in 20 appearances to date.

It looked like he was surplus to requirements when the Championship side signed Daryl Dike for £7m earlier this month but the American international has been ruled out for two months with a hamstring injury.

This could either give Hugill a potential second chance at The Hawthorns or West Brom may look to sign a striker on loan before the transfer window shuts on January 31.

Either way, Hughes, says the Norwich loanee is not a quitter.

“I’d be lying if I sat here and said he’s over the moon, let’s not kid ourselves. Jordan is 29 years of age, he wants to play and he wants to score goals," he said, via the Eastern Daily Press.

“He’s scored one goal, so he’s not scored enough, so there is an argument of whether we could recall him. Well, we’re not going to recall a striker that’s not in form.

“He knows that, he’s not stupid, he’s been around the game – but I will say is that he’s an absolutely top professional and he can’t do any more to look after himself on and off the pitch physically to be ready.

“I can’t control the West Brom manager’s decisions, he’s doing what he feels is best for the club and what is best to get West Brom promoted."

Hugill, who is also behind Karlan Grant and Callum Robinson in the forward pecking order at West Brom, played 34 times for Norwich last season as they earned promotion to the Premier League.

But he only scored four goals last term and was not part of their top-flight plans this term. However, Hughes applauded the grit and determination he possesses within him.

He continued: “Jordan is not getting the minutes. He is an asset to us and we do care about him but I think it’s just a waiting game in terms of his agent and West Brom to see what comes.

“But if Jordan has to stay there and fight for his place, he’s more than up for that. He’s a really strong character but he just wants to do as well as he can, to impress Dean Smith, which I think is fabulous.

“He wants to do as well as he can to get back and do well for Norwich, so in that respect, I take my hat off and applaud him, his attitude is top drawer."

Claudio Ranieri has left Watford after just 112 days in charge with the club expected to announce his successor as head coach within the next 48 hours.

Watford’s players were given time off after the shambolic 3-0 home defeat at home to Norwich City which sealed Ranieri’s fate but will return to training on Tuesday afternoon. It is unlikely the new head coach will be in place by then but an appointment is understood to be imminent.

The club is working its way through potential candidates and are looking at managers who are out-of-work and therefore readily available. However, the search is complicated by the tightened rules following Brexit, which may explain why a new head coach has not immediately been announced, while it is believed Watford are considering British coaches on their list.

One name on the shortlist is Diego Martinez who enjoyed success in Spain with Granada before allowing his contract to run down. The 41-year-old has been discussed by the Watford board twice in the past and was under consideration before Xisco Munoz was hired.

Ranieri knew he would be leaving after Friday’s dismal 3-0 defeat at home to relegation rivals Norwich City with Watford dropping into the relegation zone for the first time this season.

"Watford Football Club confirms the departure of Head Coach Claudio Ranieri," the club said in a statement on Monday.

"The Hornets' Board recognises Claudio as a man of great integrity and honour, who will always be respected here at Vicarage Road for his efforts in leading the team with dignity.

"However, the Board feels that, with nearly half of the Premier League campaign remaining, a change in the Head Coach position now will give a new appointment sufficient time to work with a talented squad to achieve the immediate goal of retaining Premier League status.

"No further club comment will be made until this new appointment is confirmed in due course."

Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson has confirmed that free agent centre-back Timm Klose is on trial with the club.

Klose, 33, has been without a club since being let go by Norwich City before the start of the 2021/22 campaign.

Bristol City are in the market for another defensive addition after Nathan Baker was ruled out for the long-term, and it seems Klose is being considered as an option.

As quoted by Bristol Live, Pearson remained coy on the situation, confirming that Klose is with the club but refusing to elaborate on the details of the matter.  When asked if the experienced defender is on trial, he said:

“Yeah it is but I won’t comment on anything else.”

Given the Swiss defender’s level of experience in the second-tier, he could prove to be a shrewd acquisition for the Robins.

He spent four-and-a-half years on the books with Norwich City, helping them win promotion to the Premier League in the 2018/19 season. The German-born centre-back played 128 times for the Canaries across all competitions, with 100 of those outings coming in the Championship.

Klose has also spent time on the books in Germany and Switzerland.

With Klose available as a free agent, Bristol City won’t have to pay a transfer fee for his services, and it could prove to be a deal worth pursuing.

He has struggled with injuries and fitness previously, but he could be a decent signing for Pearson’s side as he looks to bolster his defensive ranks before embarking on the rest of the campaign.