Norwich City Opinion: Why the Canaries should sign Ralf Fahrmann?

According to The Pink Un, Norwich City are set to sign Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann on loan for the 2019/20 season. However, the newly-promoted Premier League club will not have an option to sign the goalkeeper permanently at the end of the season.

A modern-day legend at Schalke, Ralf Fahrmann, 30, who rose through the ranks at the Gelsenkirchen club, has almost 200 Bundesliga appearances, having also spent two seasons with Eintracht Frankfurt. He has been one of Bundesliga’s most reliable goalkeepers for a long time now but found himself either injured or playing second-fiddle to highly-rated youngster Alexander Nubel.

Now that Nubel has established himself as Schalke’s no.1, Fahrmann is leaving the club in search of regular football and he would undoubtedly be a solid addition to the Canaries’ backline.

Norwich dominated the Championship last term, ending up as the winners with a staggering 94 points. Ahead of the Premier League campaign, manager Daniel Farke hasn’t wasted much time in reshaping his squad.

The Norfolk club has signed the likes of Patrick Roberts, Josip Drmic and Rocky Bushiri so far, Farke’s side also getting the permission to speak to Partick Thistle’s teenage midfielder Aidan Fitzpatrick.

As far as the goalkeeping department is concerned, Tim Krul was Farke’s no.1 last season, playing a crucial role in the club’s promotion. Despite some wobbles and shaky moments between the sticks, he won over most of the fanbase with his adorable personality, leadership skills and passion.

The Dutchman ended up playing every single minute of the campaign and proved a huge asset, thus earning a new contract until 2022.

As experienced as Krul is and the amount of respect he has in the Norwich dressing room, one cannot forget the serious knee injury he sustained back in 2015 whilst on international duty with the Netherlands.

That has seen the 31-year-old lose some agility and did concede some soft goals, even though he had a remarkably injury-free renaissance season in the Championship.

While City do have Michael McGovern, he turns 35 this summer and is set to have a back-up role once again. That makes the addition of a new shot-stopper a must and Farke is taking the right step by signing Ralf Fahrmann.

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Fahrmann has played over 300 career games for club and country, whilst also having volumes of European experience under his belt. The 30-year-old is solid shot-stopper, with good reflexes and distribution skills.

He is a vocal leader and can be a big influence in the Norwich dressing room. The former Germany youth international will provide competition to Krul, which is very much needed.

Verdict

Tim Krul was Norwich’s number one last season and regardless of the club’s pursuit of Fahrmann, the Dutchman will be expected to start the 2019/20 opener against Liverpool at Anfield.