Smith takeaways: City chief backs Sargent, getting Pukki firing and double injury blow

Opinion

How much is Teemu Pukki worth to Norwich City?

Published: 5:00 PM May 25, 2022

Updated: 8:50 PM May 25, 2022

What is Teemu Pukki worth to Norwich Urban center? CHRIS LAKEY looks at the many factors that propose just one conclusion ...

The decision to trigger the option on Teemu Pukki's contract to keep him at Carrow Road for another season was widely welcomed.

But is information technology any guarantee the mighty Finn will be wearing yellow and green next season?

Without wishing to cause panic, this (afterward the deal was done) does rather sound like Pukki keeping his options open up: "I haven't even thought most next flavour notwithstanding. It is overnice that the question won't be asked anymore. I'thousand but playing this season and then we will encounter what happens next year. I just want to stay in the league with Norwich, that is my aim."

Dean Smith went a flake further by saying: "The best matter for me is that he is more than happy to desire to stay equally well, really important for united states."

Good. It's what all Norwich Urban center fans desire, isn't information technology? Merely, what if?

Max Aarons of Norwich and Todd Cantwell celebrate during the FA Cup game at Tottenham

Max Aarons, left, and Todd Cantwell - how much are they worth now compared to 12 months agone? - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd

Money's tight

What if someone came in with a tempting offer? There is a self-sufficient model at Norwich which relies in part on buying players cheaply and selling them for a turn a profit. In the summer of 2018, City sold Josh Spud for £11m and James Maddison for £22.5m. Two years later Ben Godfrey went for £25m, Emi Buendia for £33m. This summer you're looking at Max Aarons and Todd Cantwell for income – both their toll tags take dropped over the season. Pukki was as inexpensive equally they come – he was free. What's he worth at present? City won't get £30m for Pukki, but if they got a quarter of that it would supplement the depreciation of the two other players. It'due south a business and Pukki remains a commodity.

Who'd accept him?

Plenty. Pukki would do a task for nearly teams in the Premier League. And there'd be a few of the big boys who'd fancy his guile as well. At 32, he is approaching the cease of his career, but he's shown no signs of wearable and tear. He's low maintenance on the fettle front. And last season, 35 players over the age of 33 played Premier League football game, so it'due south not exclusively a boyfriend's game. Take one team, Manchester United, who over the years have had success with 'veteran' strikers – Cristiano Ronaldo, Edison Cavani, Henrik Larsson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. An available Pukki would have plenty of admirers.

The negative message

We've all seen players come and go and thought it was the terminate of the world, but it usually straightens itself out. But a Pukki leave would send Norwich Metropolis fans through the floor. After a gut-wrenching season the bespeak would be difficult to accept. It would have a lot of explaining away, given the hopes of a swift render to the Premier League centre largely on Pukki ripping upwards the Championship for a third time. Possible new signings hither would perhaps raise more a wary eyebrow as well. It would exist a very negative bulletin to all and sundry. Aspirations down the pan.

The homo himself

He's a super absurd Finn. Merely he isn't a clemency. This could be the chance of a last payday too as the opportunity to play in the Premier League once more – in that location's no guarantee of that if he stays.

There'southward no suggestion that Pukki has money on his mind, but ambition may be.

Josh Sargent of Norwich City during the Premier League match at Elland Road, Leeds

Josh Sargent - one of many who failed to alive up to expectations concluding season - Credit: Matt Wilkinson/Focus Images Ltd

Worst case scenario

What if he did go? He was signed on a free and became a fable. No statement. Just later a season when Metropolis's recruitment has been a failure, what are the chances of anyone pulling a rabbit the size of Norfolk out of the lid once more? And the evidence of last season'southward performances from some of the summer signings doesn't inspire much confidence either.

Teemu Pukki on his first appearance in Norwich City colours - in a friendly at King's Lynn Town

Teemu Pukki on his showtime appearance in City colours - in a friendly at Male monarch's Lynn Boondocks - Credit: Ian Burt

Conclusion

The exercise of these words has not been to frighten people, to scaremonger. It has been to show how valuable Teemu Pukki is to Norwich Urban center. The answer is simple: he's priceless.