Norwich City boss Philippe Clement has admitted he’ll need to be tough with the Imps’ first £1m player, as he’s currently nowhere near his potential.
In an interview that could have been given a year ago, the former Glasgow Rangers boss talked up Jovon Makama, but sees much more to come. That echoes the rhetoric coming out of the Sincil Bank camp 12 months ago.
Makama started the Canaries’ 3-2 defeat against Watford on the bench today, coming on just past the hour mark. He has been a regular feature for them this season, and Clement highlighted how he feels the former Derby youngster is only going to get better.
“He has a certain profile, but for me, to be honest, I think he’s at 30% of his potential,” he told the Pink ‘Un. “He’s going to be one of the ones I need to be tough with to get him to 100%.”
Clement insisted that there has already been an improvement in the 21-year-old, who is ‘putting effort in’ to reach the levels required in the Championship.
“He’s doing a lot of good things, but also still quite a few things that he needs to improve. He knows because we talk about that. I’m happy with what he’s showing until now because I saw the images from the beginning of the season and clearly everything we talk about, he’s putting effort in.
“But it’s somebody with still much more potential to make him stronger, better, faster, making better decisions. So I’m really excited to work the next months and the next years with him to get him to a really high level.”
It does surprise me a little, because I’m led to believe that Clement is wrong. If I’m to believe the expert in the Ivy Club in Wragby, Makama isn’t worth £1m and never will be, while Gav, who sits behind me, thinks he is stealing a living.
Unusually, Clement believes otherwise, and with three Belgian Pro League titles under his belt, with two different clubs, I do wonder if maybe he knows a little better. I suppose it remains to be seen.
Makama became the Imps’ first-ever £1m sale when he moved to Norwich for a fee believed to be in excess of £1.2m, and he’s settled like snow in Norfolk. He’s been one of the few bright spots in a torrid season for them, a season that fans are hoping turns now that the former Monaco head coach is in situ.
If he does kick on, it will be of huge value to City, who retain a sizeable sell-on fee, as well as the seven-figure sum already banked.
You must be logged in to post a comment.