The Canaries are working on a deal to explore the prospect of adding the 25-year-old winger from Vancouver Whitecaps to head coach Philippe Clement's squad this month, alongside other potential wide attacking targets as they go in search of increased attacking flair in the final third.
Transfermarkt are quoting that a fee in the region of €2m + add ons has been agreed between the two clubs as the player approaches the last year of his contract. The midfielder had an offer from Bundesliga side Schalke in the summer, but the Germans couldn’t reportedly couldn't reach terms with the Whitecaps
A deal is reportedly still to be agreed, but Norwich have apparently watched the winger's displays in the MLS over an extended period and are widely understood to be in the market for attacking reinforcements as they bid to improve their standing in the Championship and secure survival in the second tier this season.
Ahmed, who has been capped 22 times by Canada, recorded 11 assists and two goals for Vancouver in their MLS campaign, which ended with a 3-1 defeat to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the final last month. He has played over 100 times as a left winger but is also capable of playing at left back and in a more central role.
His development in the last two years has seen him lauded in MLS circles and earn the trust of national team boss Jesse Marsch, who praised his footballing intelligence and running power in an interview back in October.
“I would argue that Ali understands how we play better than anyone on the entire team, tactically and intellectually," Marsch told CBC Sports. “I value Ali as a player maybe more than any coach he’s ever had, because he understands exactly what I need from players who play in his spot.
Ali makes mistakes like everyone else, but in terms of his pure understanding of what’s necessary at any moment, he’s almost perfect. And he can run for days.