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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

Kieran Dowell sent Rangers transfer swipe by Norwich boss

Kieran Dowell looks set to be headed for Rangers this summer.

But while he will soon exit Norwich in the coming months, their manager appears to have taken a thinly-veiled dig at some of the players leaving Carrow Road.

David Wagner admits Norwich's outgoing stars may not have the right balance of "potential and quality."

And this could well be a swipe aimed at Dowell, who is expected to pen a deal with Michael Beale's side at the end of the season.

It's a blow for Wagner, who brought Dowell back into his first-team plans when he arrived at the club earlier this season.

But Dowell's second coming at the Championship club was cut short after picking up a knee injury in February.

Before that point, Dowell has netted five goals in 26 appearances, and Wagner had admitted the club wanted to extend his deal beyond the summer.

The German now very much seems to have changed his tune on the 25-year-old.

Asked about the potential outgoings, including Dowell, the Norwich boss said: “There is potential in this group. I think everybody can see the individual potential as well.

"But it's a big, big difference between potential and quality. You can have potential but if you don't show it consistently this means we miss the quality. And this is exactly what we have to make sure doesn’t happen.

"We either get that consistency from these players or else add the guys who are able to consistently show their potential and quality. This is what we are working on. To have both."

Meanwhile, former Canaries player and manager, Peter Grant has urged Rangers to approach any potential deal with caution. 

The Celtic hero admits Dowell has talent, although he remains unconvinced over his injury record. 

He said: "It is a club I follow closely and he has hardly played any games, injuries, there's no doubt of his talent.

"He never seems to be fit and you look at what happened with big John Souttar, he had a few injury problems and then ended up having a fracture. I just think they have to be very careful.

"You need to get all these guys fit and then it maybe looks a bit better. But you have to add and it is imperative the boys you bring in are starters and can they handle wearing the blue jersey."

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