Kemar Roofe to Norwich City transfer tip answered as ex-Rangers striker seeks career revival
Kemar Roofe remains a free agent after leaving Rangers in the summer but has been tipped to getting firing once again at Norwich City.
Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Borna Barisic and Jon McLaughlin all left Ibrox as free agents in the summer as Philippe Clement further moulded the squad into this image, and have all found clubs since. Roofe, however, left Govan and remains unattached some four months later. A deadly finisher on his day, his time at Ibrox had probably run its course with injuries hampering him and leading to disjointed runs in the side, but he is now being suggested as a replacement for Josh Sargent as the Canaries' striker is set for a spell out injured.
Currently 14th in the English Championship, the club would likely be an attractive option for the Jamaican, with Don Goodman suggesting the deal would be a "win-win" for both parties. Question marks do indeed remain however around the 31-year-old's fitness and sharpness, given how long he has been out of action for.
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Speaking to Gambling Zone, Goodman said: "Josh Sargent is a massive miss for Norwich City. It was the same last season. As soon as he returned to fitness in the new year, he was scoring goals at a rapid rate and propelling Norwich to a playoff spot.
"He's been key this season, even though it's Borja Sainz who has been scoring the goals. I don't think Norwich City have seen the best of Ashley Barnes, either, which is obviously down to injuries.
"As a team, Norwich have dropped off. They're only three points off the relegation zone and have failed to win in six. Their last two defeats against Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City are particularly concerning. It looked to me that they were struggling to create chances, let alone score goals.
"They're going to have to do something, whether that's explore the free agent market or promote somebody from the youth team. After a tough trip to West Bromwich Albion next, they face Plymouth, Luton, QPR and Portsmouth and will have to take points from that run of fixtures or face being dragged into a relegation battle. Maybe the international break has come at the right time.
"Kemar Roofe has been a decent Championship striker in the past, but I'm a bit concerned that he's been without a club for four months after leaving Rangers. It's a long time to have not played any football. Is he going to be able to get fit and firing before Sargent and Barnes return?
"But, equally, what have Norwich got to lose with signing someone like Kemar Roofe? They could sign him on a short-term deal and almost take him on trial. It would be a win-win for both parties who have very little to lose."
While Roofe would likely jump at the chance to revive his career in England, Norwich City manager Johannes Hoff Thorup appears to have poured cold water on exploring the free-agent route as he looks internally for striker solutions.
Speaking to The Pink Un, Thorup said: "We cannot just keep bringing in players, because when the rest are back fit again we end up having a squad with 35 players, and that's also not ideal. We have to come up with even better solutions to support these players.
"Let’s see if we can get off to a week when we can have some more training sessions, and can build up some energy and recovery for the players so they can be ready again to start performing, start improving and start preparing in the best possible way. That's the only thing we can do."