Icelandic star Gudmundsson the perfect fit for City

Following Nathan Redmond’s move to Southampton and Robbie Brady’s increasingly likely return to the Premier League - potentially with Champions Leicester City - it is no secret that Norwich City are in the market for a new winger. Assuming the latter does depart, Alex Neil will be left with just Matt Jarvis and the returning loanees Jacob and Josh Murphy as his only senior options out wide. Thus, it is, along with our strike-force and central defence, one of the many key areas that needs strengthening - and fast. If recent rumours are to be believed, one man that Alex Neil is targeting to help address the situation is Iceland’s Euro 2016 star Johann Berg Gudmundsson. A player that I believe would be a perfect fit.

The 25-year-old came to the attention of many when, from the wing, he scored a brilliant hat-trick - composed of three stunning strikes - in a 4-4 draw against Switzerland during 2014 World Cup qualifying in September 2013. At just 22-years-old, Gudmundson had become the first player to score a hat-trick for Iceland in over thirteen years, against strong opposition, and he was suddenly propelled into the limelight. Then playing for AZ Alkmaar, where he spent five years of his career, his chance to move to England was offered just ten months later when he sealed a move to Championship side Charlton Athletic.

The Icelandic settled into English football with extreme ease, ending his first season as Charlton’s joint top scorer in all competitions with 11 goals - a more than impressive haul for a winger. There was no second season syndrome for Gudmundsson, however, as he continued to excel despite Charlton’s dreadful season which culminated in relegation to League One. He ended the season joint-top of the Championship assist charts (with 11), ahead of the highly-rated likes of Tom Ince and Ross McCormack, whilst he continued to contribute in front of goal - scoring six. The Addicks ended the campaign as the second lowest scorers in the division, netting just 40 times, and through assisting 11 and scoring 6 Gudmundsson, somewhat incredibly, contributed to over 40% of Charlton’s goals.

Naturally a right-winger, but also comfortable both centrally and on the left, Gudmundsson is quick, a good dribbler of the ball and, perhaps his biggest weapon, has an unbelievably powerful left-foot. It is this weapon to his armoury that has seen him develop a reputation for being a scorer of spectacular goals, with a vast majority of his strikes for Charlton coming from outside of the box. Whilst, as a right-midfielder, he would largely come to the club as Nathan Redmond’s replacement, Robbie Brady’s inevitable departure will leave a void on set-pieces that Gudmundsson, as Charlton’s corner-kick taker, can more than ably fill.

At just 25, Gudmundsson is at pretty much the perfect age - he has experience but still has time on his side to develop into a better player - and is exactly the sort of signing that we should be looking at. Having been a star player in the Championship for two consecutive years, the Icelandic will be absolutely desperate for a shot at the highest level, and having players with this hunger and desire for Premier League football will be of huge importance. His assist and stand-out performance in Iceland’s shock 1-1 draw with Portugal in the opening game of their Euro 2016 campaign also proved that he is more than capable of performing at the highest level.

The signing of Gudmundsson would represent exactly the sort of intent that City fans are yearning for the club to show. Having earned a reported £11m from the Redmond sale, there is no doubt that we have the resources to get the deal done; whether we have the ability to get it over the line before one of our rivals comes sniffing, which they undoubtedly will, is another matter. Don’t let us down, Norwich.