Why Norwich City signing Tim Krul is a fantastic move by the club
Norwich City have signed the Netherlands goalkeeper Tim Krul on a two-year deal, following his departure from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. The 30-year-old shot-stopper was a free agent at the Amex Stadium this summer, where he played just 5 games after joining from Newcastle United in 2017.
With Angus Gunn leaving for Southampton after completing his loan deal with the Canaries, it was inevitable that they were after a quality goalkeeper to strengthen their squad for next season. Getting Krul is quite a clever business, added to the fact that the Dutchman was a free agent.
The 30-year-old is a very dependable and experienced player who has the know-how of English football, having spent 8 good seasons playing for Newcastle. No one will ever forget his heroics for the Netherlands against Costa Rica in the World Cup quarter-final four years ago.
Here’s why getting Krul is an intelligent move by Norwich, who will add experience in their goalkeeping department:
Right move for both parties
The Englishman Angus Gunn, who was on loan from Manchester City did a very steady job for Norwich City last season, keeping 15 clean sheets in 44 appearances. However, with him going to the South Coast and the Canaries being short on feasible options in that department, recruiting Krul seems like a sensible move.
Perusing at the current options, Remi Matthews has been on loan at several clubs in the past few seasons since his arrival at the Carrow Road in 2014. Meanwhile, Michael McGovern fell down the pecking order since last year and at the age of 34, the Irishman seems more fitting for a backup role.
So, in this scenario, Krul will love to take that first-choice spot and grab his opportunity to resurrect his career. The Dutchman wasn’t a regular part of the Brighton team, which forced him to sit and watch from the bench most of the time.
Verdict
We can see why Norwich have gone for an experienced yet, quality option between the sticks. Krul is not only a viable option, having played many games in this division, he is an international goalkeeper who knows how to handle pressure situations.
His command in the box will bring authority and reliability for the Canaries at the back, something which they will welcome next season if they are to have a shot at promotion.