Was Pukki signing good recruitment or a lucky break?

Bristol City boss Lee Johnson’s words that Teemu Pukki was “offered to every Championship side” suggests Norwich’s recruitment was more by luck than judgement. Having started his professional career at Finish side FC KooTeePee, 29-year-old Pukki had brief spells at the likes of Sevilla, HJK Helsinki, Schalke and Celtic before ending up in the Danish top flight with Brondby in 2014.
The Finland international finally put down roots with Drengene fra Vestegnen, scoring 71 goals from 164 appearances in all competitions.
That is said to have alerted Canaries chiefs, who signed the player in June 2018 for an assault on Championship promotion.
It certainly paid off as Pukki bagged 29 second-tier goals from 43 outings as the East Anglians claimed the title to book their spot in the promised land, and he has already notched six in England’s top division.
It has been said Norwich scouted the player and had been watching him for a while but, when speaking about the Robins’ recent signing of Spanish striker Rodri, he likened it to the situation with the Carrow Road hitman. “You’ve only got to look at the likes of Pukki, for example, who was literally sent in to every Championship side, I’ll show you, about 100 e-mails,” he said. “Obviously he came in and Norwich took a chance on him and he’s done unbelievably well for Norwich.”
Those words seem to contradict previous comments from Canaries sporting director Stuart Webber, who said that the much-travelled forward had been on his radar for about five years.
Johnson had not even seen Rodri play before taking him to Ashton Gate – a gamble, but one that is not unusual in these days of agents touting their players to anyone who will listen.
It is unlikely Pukki arrived at Norwich ‘blind’, but whatever the situation surrounding his recruitment, it was a decent bit of business for Daniel Farke.
He could do with a goal or two, however, as they have dried up since the superb 3-2 victory over Manchester City on September 14.
One point out of a possible 12 – from a goalless draw with Bournemouth last time out – has seen Farke’s side slip to 19th in the top-flight standings and it is a worrying trend, with Manchester United the next visitors on Sunday.
There is still a long way to go although it seems inevitable they will be involved in a relegation scrap at the business end of the campaign.
Pukki’s form may well determine which division they play in next term.