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Norwich Favourites to Sign Gibbs But Other Clubs Still in Running
Wednesday, 7th Jul 2021 15:17

Norwich City are the favourites to sign departing Blues youngster Liam Gibbs, however, the deal is not yet done and at least one other club is still in the running for the 18-year-old’s signature.

As reported last week, last-gasp talks between Town and Gibbs broke down on June 30th, the final day of his existing Blues deal, the club having offered a new contract late last year.

Norwich had been among the clubs keeping an eye on the Bury St Edmund-based youngster’s situation and we understand are the frontrunners to sign him but with discussions continuing and other clubs still keen.

Previously, Leeds, Brighton, Rangers and Southampton were among those to show interest, while another unnamed club has more recently come into the running.

TWTD revealed in January that the 18-year-old was yet to sign the new terms which had been offered by the Blues with his current contract up this summer and no one-year option included in his previous deal.

While the midfielder, who made his League One debut in the home game against Charlton last season, was keen to stay at Portman Road, he was unwilling to commit to the deal as it stood, although we understand the two parties weren’t too far apart.

As the end of his contract drew closer, the club made no new overtures as other interested clubs monitored the situation before last week’s deadline-day talks.

Given his age, the Blues will receive compensation for his years in the academy.

Town will have to agree a sum with his new club - they will be looking for a sum in the high hundred thousands - or the matter will go to a tribunal.

In addition to his one League One appearance for the Blues, Gibbs, who was one of the stars of Town’s U18s’ FA Youth Cup run, also made two EFL Trophy starts and one sub appearance.


Photo: Matchday Images



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Juggsy added 15:19 - Jul 7
Watch him go on to be a £20 million player now. That'll sting.
10

FAcup78 added 15:22 - Jul 7
Gibbs should have been a priority to keep hold of. If Norwich do sign him they can cash in on one of our best young talents. Very bad from our new regime in my opinion. Good luck Liam
-3

miltonsnephew added 15:23 - Jul 7
Hope he doesn't end up at Wigan!! 🤣

Think he should go to Southampton if they're still in for him.
0

parhamblue added 15:27 - Jul 7
If he thinks he's going to be playing regularly in the Championship after next season then why didn't he stay here?
11

Pencilpete added 15:31 - Jul 7
I'm sure he'll go on to make as much of a name for himself as the lad who went to Chelsea and the one who went to Man City ... can't remember either of their names which just shows how much they did.

As for Gibbs ... enjoy 15 loan spells in the lower leagues and then getting released at 20 you've earned it
16

markchips added 15:32 - Jul 7
There will be good reasons for letting him go. The priority is to get out of League One and this situation means another wage gone plus a fee. If you look at the deals so far I can only congratulate Ashton, purely on a financial basis. There is no certainty this lad will be playing higher level football within 5 years.
3

JewellintheTown added 15:37 - Jul 7
Shame he's gone and both parties couldn't meet in the middle with a new deal, but to Norwich on the cheap is the biggest kick in the nuts if it happens.
7

Bazza8564 added 15:37 - Jul 7
Sad to think hes turned down the club that nurtured him to potentially sign for our local rivals, hes pretty much no chance of playing first team football there for years, certainly better chances here, the motivation doesn't take too much working out.
Ceste La Vie, if we made him an offer and wanted to keep him, which we obviously did we would have offered what we could afford
3

Linkboy13 added 15:41 - Jul 7
Players with outstanding ability at 18 should be pushing or even playing first team football in league one. Bryan Klug says he needs to develop physically before he can be considered to go out on loan which is exactly what i said on this site about a month ago and got slagged off for numpties.
8

BeattiesBackPocket added 15:58 - Jul 7
Facup78 are you bettyblue in disguise? How exactly is it the new regimes fault?? Maybe Norwich can offer the wages a premier league club can a league one club has restrictions plus again I don't want anyone at the club who doesn't want to be here. Money should be a reason to stay!!
1

abandon_hope1978 added 16:03 - Jul 7
Once again I totally agree with linkboy13.
What will be different for Gibbs at another club that we couldn't offer?
The clubs showing interest are in higher divisions so he's got even less chance of progressing towards a first team place. Whilst money may or may not be the reason for the move, it just goes to show where we are regarding player loyalty, particularly if he goes to Norwich.
3

markchips added 16:10 - Jul 7
Looking at the current 'squad' with 28 players already out of the door (including Gibbs) I would say another 4 will leave, maybe 6 and potentially three loans for youngsters for half a season.

If you are going to have a clear out there is no sense in keeping fringe players and youngsters on wages which can be better employed bringing in quality. Crooks for example will command a large fee but is versatile and know the division well. someone like this could make just the difference. Then we can re-set. It is all about priorities and accepting we are going into our third season in the third division which is really depressing if you stop AND THINK ABOUT IT. therefore DRASTIC ACTION IS UNFORTUNATELY REQUIRED.
3

FAcup78 added 16:13 - Jul 7
Beatties you must take off your blinkers. The lad wanted to stay but obviously the club didn't make it attractive enough to stay. Apparently (I dont know) the money was close so maybe it was down to what the club was saying. He will get better loan moves with a premier league club which will help his development, if the club mentioned loan moves for him this season I'm not sure a Bury Town or Lowerstoft would persuade him to stay.

He was our stand out player in the fantastic run to the semifinals of the FA youth cup and it's my opinion that we could have done more to keep him.
5

ldnj added 16:14 - Jul 7
If he does go to another club and succeed they'll benefit. Perhaps Portsmouth should sign him (& Bishop), they've done quite well from Ipswich players in the not too distant past !

What will be different elsewhere ? For the same reason as ITFC. (To sort of paraphrase Animal Farm) Old players bad, new players good. Arguably he has more chance of progressing to the first team elsewhere given the manager's comments and attitude to existing players. IF that is the case seems a sensible job move.
2

ringwoodblue added 16:26 - Jul 7
Liam who?
2

Grimsbyblue added 16:31 - Jul 7
My take on this is that we don't know what the club offered or what more he wanted. It could be pay, length of contract or an exit clause for example. So i won't blame the club. Much as i want our young players to stay we cant let them hold us to ransom. Whilst he may go on to haunt us in the future, history suggests its more likely that he will disappear into obscurity.
3

ArnieM added 16:36 - Jul 7
Liam who?
-1

ipswich4life added 16:39 - Jul 7
No loss 18 and couldnt get in our shambles of a team last year
1

markchips added 16:52 - Jul 7
Exactly how good are our youngsters ? We are an established third division side and they have not got on our bench.
0

grubbyoik added 17:04 - Jul 7
Considering our new owners business model is to buy and develop and sell for profit to satisfy the pension fund, this to me is poor management on their part as they wanted to keep him but did not show him a clear pathway into the current buy a new team business model..
3

istanblue added 17:21 - Jul 7
No ITFC fan can sign for Norwich and still call themselves an ITFC fan. Fact!
5

RIPbobby added 17:45 - Jul 7
Sounds a bit like Daryl Sutch.
0

Linkboy13 added 17:55 - Jul 7
You don't need UEFA B badges to see this boy is way off first team football. I passed my driving test first time but im a crap driver.
2

Ipswichbusiness added 17:58 - Jul 7
If I was him I would go to Leeds as they have a reputation for developing young players, failing that Brighton.

It would be fascinating to know what the contractual difference was between the Club and him.
1

Upthetown1970 added 18:12 - Jul 7
Good luck Liam (please dont go to Norwich).
I have watched Gibbs loads over the years and he is the best player I've seen in our academy for a long time. I've spoken with Dyer, Klugg and Attay about Gibbs and they all agree Gibbs is the real deal. Absolutely gutted he is leaving for whatever reason.
5


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