Player not keen on move to Norwich City – Season in the Championship doesn’t attract him enough

Norwich City are hoping to return to the Premier League in a year’s time after they were relegated from the top flight last season.

The Canaries have already strengthened their midfield by buying Gabriel Sara from Brazilian side São Paulo and signing Isaac Hayden on a loan deal from Newcastle United this summer.

Dean Smith has set his sights on bolstering Norwich’s attack for the new season. For the wide positions, the Championship club identified Saint-Étienne’s Denis Bouanga as a target.

According to Foot Mercato, the English side have ‘very seriously followed’ the 27-year-old.

The winger’s deal expires in less than 12 months. The duration left on his contract and the French club dropping down to the second division could have allowed Norwich to sign him. That won’t happen because the Gabon international is ‘not very keen’ on joining Smith’s side, because he doesn’t want to play in the Championship.

Bouanga is ‘preparing to leave’ Saint-Étienne this summer. It’s said he’s close to joining Los Angeles FC and it is the destination that ‘makes the player dream’. Although the MLS side have not sent a firm offer yet, there’s belief the operation could be closed for €7m.

Norwich, meanwhile, will now have to look elsewhere, with Bouanga favouring a move to the United States.