Keeping Ben Godfrey at Norwich City could prove one of the best bits of transfer business this summer for the Canaries.

Amid the fanfare that surrounded the high profile exits of James Maddison and Josh Murphy, plus a number of new faces headlined by Jordan Rhodes' arrival, Godfrey signed a longer term City contract.

The 20-year-old powerhouse had been touted with Premier League Crystal Palace and former top flight duo Swansea and West Brom before extending his Carrow Road stay until at least 2022.

Sporting director Stuart Webber was confident the club could ward off any potential interest from higher up the food chain, despite an impressive season long loan stint at Shrewsbury Town.

'We talked with his agent and said that we'd discuss it (a new deal) over the summer,' he said, with City looking set for a watching brief ahead of Thursday's 5pm transfer deadline for permanent deals. 'We like to tie our assets down and also reward quite little and often, which is a personal philosophy of mine.

'I believe in when a young player does well reward them a little bit, but keep them grounded, then a little bit, then a little bit, rather than get to the last year of their contract and you have to give them a lot, which they can't handle.

'Ben's an outstanding young player and young prospect and I'm sure he's going to have a great future in the game.

'On a personal level I'm really delighted that we've tied him down for effectively five years, with the option, which is a good statement of intent for the academy here that if you do well for us, you'll get rewarded.'

Webber is now challenging the versatile youngster to put his stamp on the Canaries' first team, after impressing head coach Daniel Farke operating at centre back in pre-season.

Godfrey was touted with a potential fresh loan stint at Championship rivals Rotherham United at the start of the summer, but appears unlikely to join the likes of Remi Matthews or Russell Martin in seeking short term moves for regular football ahead of the loan deadline later this month.

'We know how well he did (at Shrewsbury) so here's a little bit more to reward you for that, you have to get in the team here now.

'That's his next challenge.'

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