Norwich City handed potential Josh Sargent "massive boost" | OneFootball

FLW's Norwich fan pundit doesn't mind if his club doesn't maximise Josh Sargent's value this summer, as the American can provide a big play-off boost

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

With just over a month remaining in the summer transfer window, Josh Sargent is still a Norwich City player.

The American looked poised to rejoin the Bundesliga after Wolfsburg agreed a £21 million move for Norwich's star striker, but Sargent has since turned down the move himself.

Sargent has played a key role in Liam Manning's first pre-season at Norwich, too, captaining the side in a recent pre-season friendly against Zulte Waregem.

The influential forward seems committed for the time being, and with three years remaining on his current contract, the Canaries are in no rush to sell.

So, unless a side can reach the valuation set out by Norwich, the 25-year-old could remain at Carrow Road for the 2025/26 campaign.

FLW's Norwich City fan pundit, Zeke Downes, sees this as a positive thing.

He knows that Sargent's valuation could decrease if he has a bad season in 2025/26, but also, he feels that the presence of "the best striker in the league" boosts their play-off credentials tenfold.

Norwich fan pundit welcomes possibility of Josh Sargent remaining at Carrow Road

Things are looking up for Downes and the rest of the Norwich fanbase at the moment. Despite losing Borja Sainz, the incoming players look promising, Liam Manning as their new manager is a major coup, and now it seems like Sargent could at least begin the season as the Canaries' number nine.

"We're in a really good position on our end," Downes told Football League World. "He's got three years left on his current contract, so we don't need to sell him."

The fan pundit stated that the only worry about keeping Sargent would be his recent injury history. The American missed 14 Championship games last season, and 20 the term prior.

"The only sticking point is his injuries for long stretches, so that's why we want to maximise the value. If that's this season, then it'd be good to let him go.

"But if he stayed for another season and then went for £5 million less next year, it isn't the end of the world."

Indeed, Downes feels that if the loss of value is minimal, keeping him in the side for the majority of next season will be worth it, as it gives Norwich a huge advantage in the play-off race.

"Signing a guy for that £5 million that we would have lost, but having his output for one more season is likely an even better option for us," he said.

"Keeping him in the squad, when we're building a really good one now, would be huge, and having him, the best striker in the league, in the squad, our top six hopes would have a massive boost."

Keeping Josh Sargent could be key for Norwich and Liam Manning's play-off credentials

The arrival of Manning, someone who led Bristol City to an unlikely play-off berth last season, shows clear intent of getting back into the top six after last season's bottom-half finish.

He's been backed well in the transfer window, with the likes of Mathias Kvistgaarden, Harry Darling and Premier League veteran Jeffrey Schlupp just some of the names through the door already this summer.

Norwich fans, and possibly even the club itself, were almost resigned to lose Saiz and Sargent this summer, so if the latter ends up staying, it'll feel as good as a marquee signing.

Sargent's averaged over a goal in every other league game in the past two seasons combined, and scored 11 in his last 16 league Championship league starts. When fit, like Downes said, the American is one of, if not the best in the league in his position.

So, if the 25-year-old can get back his league appearances to around the 40 mark once more, and if he keeps up his impressive record in front of goal, then Manning will most definitely have Norwich thinking about the play-offs.

And even if they don't manage to go up, another stand-out year for Sargent could see his value remain at the £20 million mark, if not increase, next summer.