Continuing our Six Things Summer Special, we look at Norwich City's summer switches. Three years ago, play-off success delayed their summer work – but the Canaries will have to work even quicker this time around, MICHAEL BAILEY believes.

Nothing puts on the pressure like a deadline looming – and especially when so many facets of a situation are reliant on others.

Be it other clubs, managers, players, agents and directors, Norwich City's forthcoming transfer window work will be a puzzle to solve while people walk off and hide all the pieces.

At least City's chief rebuilders – specifically head coach Daniel Farke and primarily sporting director Stuart Webber – won't have as long to fret over completing the task; although that in itself just adds to the pressure.

The rules have changed this season – both for Norwich and for the rest of English football.

All 92 clubs have until August 31 to sell players permanently, but can only sign players on the same basis up to Thursday, August 9 at 5pm – just after the opening EFL weekend, and days before the Premier League's 2018-19 kick-off.

City and other EFL clubs will still be able to loan players in during those two deadlines, while there may also be more players moved on abroad if clubs can't get domestic full-time switches over the first line.

As for when the actual starting gun for trading sounds, it's not entirely clear.

Fifa stipulates 12 weeks of trading must take place, with the international window commencing around June 9. But with England opting to close early, it means the domestic window will also open before everywhere else – effectively around May 17.

Norwich Evening News: Steven Naismith is due to return to Norwich City after his loan at Hearts. The Scotland international has one year left on his Canaries deal. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus ImagesSteven Naismith is due to return to Norwich City after his loan at Hearts. The Scotland international has one year left on his Canaries deal. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

Throw in likely delays in deals due to the World Cup taking place this summer, and that filtering down from the elite clubs means it's going to be a tricky – and narrow – summer window City will find themselves operating in.

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That scenario isn't likely to be eased by a need to turn James Maddison into the money that will ensure City can meet the remaining year of their heavy Premier League legacy – and then switch attention to actually moulding the club's first-team squad into something they would prefer to work with.

With Russell Martin, Steven Naismith and Yanic Wildschut out of favour, Ivo Pinto and Nelson Oliveira touted with exits, Matt Jarvis so close to being written off and Michael McGovern an unworked back-up, the departures seem easy to earmark – some of them coming with a few quid too.

Norwich Evening News: James Maddison was Norwich City's shining light of the 2017-18 season - which earmarks him for a multimillion-pound departure this summer. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus ImagesJames Maddison was Norwich City's shining light of the 2017-18 season - which earmarks him for a multimillion-pound departure this summer. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images (Image: ©Focus Images Limitedwww.focus-images.co.uk+447814 482222)

And who comes in cannot be exclusively continental either given EFL rules next season will continue to demand seven players in any matchday squad of 18 being homegrown: three years before the age of 21 signed to an English or Welsh club; plus the introduction of at least one club-developed player – registered with the club for at least a year before the age of 19.

The silly season starts here. Batten down the hatches.

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