Harry Amass and Norwich City was a brief story. Now many supporters are hoping a longer next chapter can be written together.
Fresh reports that surfaced on Tuesday morning suggest Manchester United may be open to a permanent sale of the teenager this summer for a deal worth £6m have piqued the interest of those of a yellow-and-green persuasion.
That news has filtered through to Norfolk, and some supporters are keen to see Amass return to Carrow Road despite his loan spell being cut short by injury. Given his contribution at Norwich amounts only to 15 minutes, where he played as a right winger, it shows the pedigree and high esteem in which he is held.
Amass' hamstring injury came just six days after his loan move to Norwich. It occurred in training as he sought to keep a ball in play and was a blow for all parties.
United had selected City as his next loan destination because of Philippe Clement and the opportunities created through improved facilities and a team heading up the table. Norwich had selected Amass after their scouting team identified him as a top left-back target when they needed to draw up options at short notice in January.
It didn't take much persuading for Clement to be sold on his ability. It is clearly a player that he admires. The feeling about a return at the start of the summer was that Manchester United would be reluctant to make a decision on him early enough for him to enter City's left-back picture.
If that has changed, then Norwich will put Amass under consideration alongside their shortlist of targets. Contact with his camp has been consistent. They will stay across the details and shifts in position from Manchester United's end.
Norwich's pursuit for a left back has been specific. Throw in that Birmingham, Middlesbrough and Burnley are all in the market for options in that position, and it adds an extra layer to why their pursuit has been challenging.
Plenty of options have been assessed. They've made enquiries both for loan and permanent deals, and both routes remain on the table.
Under consideration are a broad church of options ranging in age and situations. Everything from Premier League loan options to overseas permanent potentials have crossed City's desk. Among that list will inevitably be Amass, but he isn't the only one from the top-flight to be considered.
Jay Dasilva of Coventry City and Harry Amass of Norwich in action during the Sky Bet Championship match at Carrow Road, Norwich 26/01/2026 Commissioned for use in Newsquest Norfolk titles only. All other titles fees apply.Harry Amass featured for just 15 minutes for Norwich City after his January loan from Manchester United. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
The overseas market generally offers better value for money, but there are also potential domestic options under consideration on a permanent basis.
So do roads lead inevitably back to the teenager, especially now that those reports about a permanent exit have surfaced?
There is plenty for Norwich to consider with this search. They have been led by a recognition that both left backs in the building in Ben Chrisene and Lucien Mahovo are talented, young and have high ceilings. In ordinary times, they wouldn't be in a position where another addition was necessary, but persistent injury issues have made it a priority this summer.
Every decision that City have taken in the last 12 months, whether that was initially adding Jeffrey Schlupp last summer and then Amass' short-term loan in January, has been about protecting their exposure to game time in the hope of kicking on their development.
Naturally, that matters little if neither are available to play on a consistent basis. Mahovo's injury, a contact issue rather than soft tissue, hasn't changed the pace or urgency of this search. Irrespective of what happened this summer, Norwich would have added in that area.
Part of the thinking is what type of player they add. Dennis Cirkin and Ryan Giles, who have both been linked, are prime-age players who would be expected to play the majority of matches. Given Norwich already have two younger left-backs they want to develop, committing to a prime-age starter risks blocking that pathway.
Lucien Mahovo of Norwich during the Pre-Season Friendly match at the Avant Training Centre, Colney 04/07/2026 Commissioned for use in Newsquest Norfolk titles only. All other titles fees apply.Lucien Mahovo is highly rated at Norwich City - but is staring at time on the treatment table after an ankle injury. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
Going for a more experienced option will likely be more costly and also comes with potential risks about blocking potential pathways. Schlupp’s short-term deal 12 months ago offers a cautionary tale, with limited on-pitch impact before his departure.
Then there is the younger route. But adding another one to develop alongside the two they already possess could lead to development being split too widely between the three. When it comes with loans, Norwich's preference is also to sign and develop their own players instead of another club's - but that could yet emerge as the most sensible option from here.
So - where do things currently stand? Norwich are in the process of meeting agents and targets as part of their recruitment process.
No transfer is expected to be completed this week, and it's extremely unlikely they'll spend £6m on a left back. If it is Amass who comes back, it will almost certainly have to be via a smaller fee or another loan to suit Norwich’s budget - and that does not currently feel aligned with Manchester United’s stance.
Throw in that it does feel likely there would be Championship clubs willing to meet that £6m threshold and a Carrow Road return feels unlikely at this stage. But Norwich remain interested if a solution could be found.
Norwich's big investment this summer was on Andre Brooks. They aren't expected to go big again in this window - as has been a trend since Mark Attanasio's arrival, there is often one bigger money transfer identified and completed rather than multiple.
Social media suggestions that Norwich are in advanced talks for Viborg's Srdjan Kuzmic are also not right. He may be one they've assessed, and they've watched plenty as part of this pursuit, but their search is not currently down the line with any target.
Ben Knapper and Lee Dunn are leading the search for a new left back option. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
Norwich are therefore trying to thread a very fine needle. They want someone robust enough to ease the load on Chrisene and Mahovo, but not so dominant or costly that it shuts down the pathway they have worked hard to create.
In that context, profile and price point matter just as much as ability, which is why they are prepared to be patient rather than reaching for the first available fix.
All of that makes the Amass question more nuanced than simply righting the wrongs of last season’s bad luck. If the numbers and structure fall into line, he remains a player Norwich admire and would happily revisit – but only on terms that fit their wider strategy.
Until then, the search continues for a left-back who can protect the present without compromising the future.