Last night (Sunday) Norwich City completed the signing of Canadian international winger Ali Ahmed from Vancouver Whitecaps.

The 25-year-old has signed a three-year contract at Carrow Road with the option of a further year and becomes the Canaries first signing of the January transfer window.

It is understood that Norwich have paid a fee reported to be in the region of £1.4m to secure the winger's services after Vancouver activated a clause to extend his contract by a further year. Various reports in Canada also suggest the MLS side have inserted a sell-on percentage into the transfer deal.

Ahmed has been assigned the squad number 21 and will be available for Norwich's FA Cup third round match against Walsall at Carrow Road next weekend.

Ahmed was at Carrow Road to watch City's 2-0 defeat to Stoke and was sitting alongside sporting director Ben Knapper, head of recruitment Lee Dunn and other club officials after flying into the UK to complete his medical.

Norwich are understood to be very close to finalising a deal worth a reported £1.4m for Canadian Winger Ali Ahmed after he was present at Carrow Road on Sunday to see the Canaries defeat at home to Stoke City.  It is thought that Ahmed could make his debut in the upcoming FA Cup third round tie against Walsall.

Norwich Head Coach Philippe Clement, however, would not be drawn on whether Ahmed is the first of his January transfer window arrivals.

“I can confirm that we are really close to signing a winger, so we hope to sign it in the next couple of days. We're close to something, but it's not fully done yet,” he said. “I'm not going to go into rumours until everything is arranged.

"Why? Because experience from the past tells me that some things can be stopped in the last split second, and then it's not good for a player or for the other team and for us as a club, also, if I say a name where not everything is arranged.”

Norwich City's popular Belgian head coach Philippe Clement has been looking ahead to the club's match with Stoke City on Sunday when they will be looking as a team for their fourth win in six games.

A few players are unsurprisingly carrying knocks ahead of what will be their fifth game in 15 days. There are no major injury issues but a few players will be assessed right up to kick-off.

Senegalese winger Papa Amadou Diallo is expected back in light training next week after injury having been out since September

Clement has been delighted by the team spirit in recent weeks. He says he‘s pleased to see players who haven’t been selected celebrating wins just as much as those who have.

The head coach is asking home fans to turn up the volume and help the players through the last game or a busy spell. He says the players have been enjoying hearing new chants and songs from the stands about themselves.

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.

Interesting reports from north of the border in Scotland suggest that Norwich are interested in Vinnie Leonard of Dundalk, and face competion for his signature from Celtic, Lyon & Genoa who are also interested in the Irish teenager.

Dundalk boss, Ciaran Kilduff isn’t surprised that Leonard is attracting attention from other clubs. Speaking earlier on in the season after a win against Treaty United, he said: “what we have on our hands here is a special talent. I know teams like Celtic and others were over watching him for weeks. The club do link in with me on matters like this. But I am dealing with the football side of things.

"He is a player for the future. We have a kid on our hands. Even if there are offers from UK clubs with an interest, he cannot go there until June of next year. He is not 18 until March. He is really enjoying his football. Vinny is also going to a World Cup with the Republic of Ireland [under 17s]. He has a lot on his plate right now.”

It’s expected that a deal for the highly-rated teenager, who has represented his country at International youth level, would be six-figures plus add-ons. It also wouldn’t be the first time Celtic have dipped into the League of Ireland market, having signed Liam Scales and Johnny Kenny from Shamrock Rovers in recent years.

Norwich City head coach Philippe Clement confirmed  after the away draw at Preston North End that he expects the US international to be available to play on Friday at home to Charlton, after Jovon Makama again stepped up in the 1-1 draw away at Deepdale.

"Of course, it's never an advantage to miss a player like Josh. If we could have had both, we could have been stronger, but it is what it is for the moment," he said.

"I'm happy that Josh will be back also this week after his concussion, and then we get other options also again. It's hard work to come there against teams like Preston, who are really good in their pressing and very aggressive,  So yes, Jov is taking good lessons.

According to reports published by Teamtalk and other sites, West Ham are keen on a deal to bring Norwich City's USA International striker Josh Sargent to the London Stadium in the new year.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo is said to be seeking reinforcements to his attacking options, with the club at risk of relegation from the Premier League, and with an aging strikeforce in his squad.

However, according to the latest reports emerging it’s believed that the £20 million asking price reported to have been set by Norwich is proving to be a major stumbling block in getting an agreement over the line.

It is said that West Ham aren’t currently willing to pay that much for the player ahead of the January window, which is therefore likely to prevent a deal from happening in this transfer window.

Norwich Head Coach Philippe Clement will be keen to keep Sargent due to his importance to the team, with the US international holding a contract with the Norfolk outfit until the summer of 2028.

It’s understood that the Hammers are willing to seek other opportunities as long as the £20 million asking price remains in place.

Norwich have no immediate incentive to lower their demands, particularly with the club in a fight against relegation themselves.

Interesting reports start to emerge from media in the player's home country of South Korea last night

Norwich City were  previously interested in a deal for Yang, with Sky Sports' Anthony Joseph claiming in July that the Canaries were keen, but a deal never materialised from there.

They are now said to be back at the table for Yang, in their quest for reinfrcements for the first team squad in January to help the club get out of their current relegation battle - Let's not forget Norwich are now managed by Philippe Clement, who will know about the winger from his time as Celtic manager.