Hartlepool United on alert as Norwich City release ex-loanee and summer target Timi Odusina

Timi Odusina has been released by Norwich City, with Hartlepool United among the clubs hoping to land him on a permanent deal this summer.
Timi Odusina of Hartlepool United battles for possession with Ebbsfleet United's Gozie Ugwu.Timi Odusina of Hartlepool United battles for possession with Ebbsfleet United's Gozie Ugwu.
Timi Odusina of Hartlepool United battles for possession with Ebbsfleet United's Gozie Ugwu.

Odusina arrived at The Vic on loan in January and made eight appearances before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 20-year-old defender was highly rated by Pools boss Dave Challinor who has made no secret of his desire to bring back some of the loan players on permanent deals following a string of impressive performances.

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Pools and their National League rivals are unsure when the 2020-21 campaign will be able to start, with some suggestions it may not be until January.

No new signings are imminent until there is further clarity from the National League regarding the next steps but Odusina is certainly a player high on Challinor’s radar.

Speaking this week, Challinor said: “At the moment, we’ve got eight players contracted for next year and we’ve got tentative agreements with a couple but nothing concrete.

“If we can keep the players we want to who were here last year with us then we’ve got 15-16 players and then we can see where we are budget-wise and where we need to go and do business.

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“All of a sudden, if a certain player we want to keep doesn’t sign, as an example with the loan players and Lidds and Timi where we’re looking at doing something with but if neither of those happen then we need two centre-halves and that almost becomes our top priority more so than us needing a midfielder or a full-back for example.”

The loan arrivals of Gary Liddle, Mark Shelton, Odusina and Macauley Southam-Hales played a big part in the side’s upturn in form during the latter months of the 2019-20 campaign.

Challinor, speaking earlier this month, added: “If I could get all of them back I would but there are obviously different situations with the players regarding their contracts.”

Challinor has been speaking this week about the challenges facing all clubs regards planning for next season given the huge uncertainty in football at the moment following the pandemic, with football suspended since mid-March and clubs losing income from gate receipts, commercial and hospitality.

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Odusina was one of nine academy players released by Norwich City this week.

Steve Weaver, Norwich City’s academy manager, told canaries.co.uk. “We always make sure that we begin this process at the earliest opportunity and that was no different this season.

“All of the lads have been aware of the situation for some time, some even prior to the January transfer window. We want to allow the players who know they are leaving the club as much time to plan and prepare for whatever awaits them after Norwich City.

“It’s of course a tough and challenging process for all involved, but we wish all of those players leaving us the very best.”