Former Imps loanee Brooke Norton-Cuffy could be on the move again just 18 months after leaving English football, with a big-money return now firmly on the table.
Norton-Cuffy has emerged as a £20million-rated transfer target after an impressive spell in Serie A with Genoa, but West Ham United look increasingly unlikely to be his destination.
According to reports from Football Insider, the 22-year-old right-back is prepared to turn down an approach from West Ham amid concerns over their current situation, with the player understood to be reluctant to join a club embroiled in a relegation battle. Instead, Norton-Cuffy is expected to assess alternative Premier League options should formal bids arrive.
Of course, City are being used as the bogeyman for West Ham fans, with one national paper carrying a phrase this weekend that said something along the lines of ‘instead of hosting Manchester United next season, West Ham could be hosting the likes of Lincoln City. Norton-Cuffy graced our turf once, but is seemingly unwilling to risk doing it again in claret and blue.
Everton and Newcastle United are both credited with strong interest, while Genoa are believed to have placed a valuation in the region of £20 million on the defender. With multiple clubs monitoring his situation, a bidding war remains a possibility, although that asking price could prove difficult to reach during the January window.
Norton-Cuffy success
Norton-Cuffy moved to Italy in August 2024 after leaving Arsenal, seeking a clearer pathway to regular first-team football. That decision has been vindicated, with the former England Under-21 international establishing himself in Serie A and earning widespread praise for his athleticism, recovery pace and attacking output from right-back.
His rise will come as little surprise to Imps who saw him marauding through the Wycombe defence while still a teenager. He joined the Imps on loan in January 2022 and made an immediate impact, debuting off the bench away at Plymouth Argyle before quickly becoming a regular feature down the right flank. His standout moment in a City shirt came in March of that season, when he scored his first senior goal in a memorable win against Sheffield Wednesday at Sincil Bank, a performance that underlined his confidence and end product.
That loan spell proved a significant step in his development, offering him sustained senior exposure and a platform to showcase his ability in a demanding League One environment. From Lincoln, Norton-Cuffy would go on to gain further experience with loans at Rotherham United, Coventry City and Millwall, each spell adding different tactical and physical challenges to his game.
Now, with Genoa reportedly open to selling at the right price, his trajectory points firmly upwards. Everton are said to view him as a long-term solution at right-back, while Newcastle’s interest reflects his growing reputation as a modern full-back capable of handling the intensity of Premier League football.
Which is more than can be said for West Ham this season.