Matt Jarvis completed a deadline-day loan move to Norwich City, and revealed his excitement at the prospect of linking up with manager Alex Neil.
Eyebrows were raised last season when Neil was lured from Hamilton Academical to succeed Neil Adams, who resigned in early January with the Canaries three points outside the top-six in the Championship. The Scot made an immediate impression at Carrow Road, and led City right back into the Premier League after beating Middlesbrough in the playoff final at Wembley.
Still only 34-years-old, Neil is now the youngster manager in the English top-flight and is fast earning a reputation as one of the best young coaches in Europe. This is further evidenced by the words of one-cap England international winger Jarvis, who joined Norwich from West Ham United in a season-long loan deal on deadline day and spoke of his admiration for the Scotsman.
“I’m delighted to be here. You only have to look at what he’s done and the team has done in recent times,” he told the official club website. “It’s a fantastic journey the club has been on and hopefully we can kick on now. Hopefully I’ll be training with the lads on Thursday and then I’ll get a full week with them next week. I’m really looking forward to being part of the team.”
Prior to the deadline day Norwich took Dieumerci Mbokani from Dynamo Kiev on loan for the season, with the option to take him permanently next summer. The 29-year-old DR Congo international, who has scored 15 goals in 30 appearances for his country, will provide more competition in attack and will be available for Neil once he has been granted a work permit.
Mbokani’s arrival also paved the way for Ricky van Wolfswinkel to end his disappointing spell at Carrow Road. The Holland international joined Norwich for £8.5million in the summer of 2013 but only managed one goal in the Premier League, and he spent last season at St Etienne. He has now joined Spanish side Real Betis on loan for the remainder of the current campaign.
Norwich City
IN: Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion undisclosed), Robbie Brady (Hull City £7m), Youssouf Mulumbu (West Bromwich Albion free), Andre Wisdom (Liverpool loan), Jake Kean (Blackburn Rovers free), Dieumerci Mbokani (Dynamo Kiev loan), Matt Jarvis (West Ham United loan).
OUT: Bradley Johnson (Derby County £6m), Cameron McGeehan (Luton Town undisclosed), Mark Bunn (Aston Villa free), Javier Garrido, Carlos Cuellar, Luciano Becchio, Kyle Callan-McFadden (all released), Jacob Murphy (Coventry City loan), Josh Murphy (MK Dons loan), Michael Turner (Sheffield Wednesday loan), Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Real Betis loan), Tony Andreu (Rotherham United loan), Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe (Rotherham United loan).
