"Inevitable" - Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit makes concerning Norwich City transfer claim involving Borja Sainz | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has told FLW his verdict on Borja Sainz's future at Norwich City amid Athletic Club interest.

Lee Hendrie has claimed it's inevitable that Borja Sainz will depart Norwich City this summer amid interest from La Liga side Athletic Club.

It was reported by Catalan-base news outlets earlier this week that the Spanish side are interested in signing the forward in the upcoming transfer window, and that Sainz himself has been speaking with Bilbao’s football chief Mikel González since the end of the 2024/25 season.

Ernesto Valverde’s side have earned qualification for the Champions League next season, and recently reached the semi-finals of the Europa League.

Sainz has earned a lot of plaudits for his performances this season, scoring 18 Championship goals for the Canaries in an otherwise underwhelming campaign in which they finished 13th in the table.

Lee Hendrie makes Borja Sainz, Norwich City transfer claim

Hendrie has expressed his surprise at the lack of interest from the clubs who gained promotion to the Premier League due to his impressive goalscoring record.

However, he feels a move to Athletic Club would be a fantastic opportunity, suggesting an exit from Norwich is inevitable this summer.

“I think it’s inevitable that he will go, there’s no doubt about that,” Hendrie exclusively told Football League World.

“The season he’s had, he’s been their standout player, no doubt about that, in, for me, probably not the strongest Norwich side that I’ve seen.

“So I do think that he will definitely go. To be honest with you, Athletic Bilbao is a big step-up.

“I think he’d suit their style. Obviously, he’s a goalscoring midfielder. I’m very surprised he hasn’t got clubs that are going into the Premier League that might want to sign him.

"I think he’s got quality, he scores goals from midfield. You look at goalscoring midfield players these days, they’re hard to come by.

“Going to Athletic Bilbao would be a fantastic signing for him, but it’s definitely, definitely inevitable that he leaves Norwich.”

Sainz was the joint-second top scorer in the Championship behind Leeds United's Joel Piroe, but Norwich finished 11 points adrift of the play-offs, leading to Johannes Hoff Thorup being dismissed as manager.

Sainz has earned the chance to compete at a higher level

Sainz was a standout player across the entire second division last year, so Norwich’s underwhelming league result was always going to lead to interest in his services this summer.

Athletic Club would be an exciting opportunity, especially given their qualification for the Champions League.

The forward only has one year remaining on his contract, so Norwich may have to cash in now or else they risk losing him for nothing in 2026.

In that context, a sale is inevitable this summer, and the best they can hope for is that they receive good money from wherever he ends up.