What future for the Canaries' young stars after Norwich City relegated for record fifth time?

Video report from ITV Anglia Sports Correspondent Donovan Blake

  • Norwich City 0-4 West Ham United

Norwich City have been relegated from the Premier League for a record fifth time after a humiliating 4-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers West Ham United.

The Canaries knew that only a win would keep their faint survival hopes alive at Carrow Road but that never looked likely as they slipped to a seventh straight loss.

Michail Antonio was their tormentor, scoring all four goals for the Hammers on a disastrous afternoon for Daniel Farke's side.

Daniel Farke reacts to Norwich City's relegation during his post match news conference via Zoom

It means Norwich are the first team to be relegated from the Premier League on five occasions, one ahead of Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Middlesbrough who have all been relegated four times.

Since the league restarted in June, Norwich have lost all six league games - only scoring one goal in the process.

Michail Antonio celebrates scoring one of his four goals against Norwich. Credit: PA

Despite winning the Championship in style last season, Norwich have struggled to adapt to playing at a higher level and once again they were found wanting as Antonio ran riot.

He got his first of the afternoon in the 11th minute as the Canaries left him unmarked from a corner, and he added a second just moments before half-time - heading in Mark Noble's free-kick.

Noble was again the provider for his hat-trick goal. The midfielder's ball over the top found Antonio who saw his initial shot saved by Tim Krul, before he then tucked in the rebound.

Despite it already being his first career hat-trick, he wasn't finished there though, and he got his fourth of the day when he slotted home Ryan Fredericks' cross.

For Norwich, it was a painful end to their latest brief spell in the top flight and they must now prepare for another grueling campaign in the Championship.

  • Where do Norwich go from here?

Daniel Farke consoles a dejected Max Aarons. Credit: PA

Analysis by ITV News Anglia's Andy Ward

If last season's promotion was unexpected, this season's relegation was anything but.

With the lack of money made available to Daniel Farke in the transfer market, it was always going to be a huge ask for Norwich to compete in the Premier League.

Instead of splashing out on new signings, the Canaries instead chose to put their faith in the players who got them into the top flight in such stylish fashion - tying down the majority of the squad to new contracts.

The good news for Norwich moving forward is that those contracts will also have clauses which will see the players' salaries drop again next season - something the club failed to do in 2016 the last time they were relegated.

That should at least safeguard the future of the club on this occasion, and although you would suspect the Canaries will inevitably lose at least of a couple of their star players, the club are under no real pressure to sell.

That doesn't mean that everything is rosy though, and the recruitment this summer needs to be so much better than it was 12 months ago if Norwich are to bounce straight back.

What little budget Norwich did have last season, they blew the majority of it on expensive loan flops like Ibrahim Amadou, Ralf Fährmann and Patrick Roberts and that cannot happen again if the Canaries are serious about promotion.

They've already added three new faces to their squad ahead of next season, with a fourth, Danish midfielder Jacob Lungi Sörensen set to arrive imminently, and it's important that they continue to strengthen.

Whichever way you dress it up, Norwich have been nowhere near good enough this season and fresh blood is certainly required at both ends of the pitch.

Despite such a poor campaign as a group, the potential of players like Todd Cantwell, Ben Godfrey, Max Aarons, Jamal Lewis and Emi Buendia will make them attractive propositions for top flight clubs but both Head Coach Daniel Farke and Sporting Director Stuart Webber have made it clear that the club are determined to keep hold of their brightest talents if possible.

Of course, we don't yet know how much of an impact the money lost because of the coronavirus pandemic will have on the club's finances, but if they can retain the majority of their top players, they should have a squad capable of mounting another promotion push next season.