Norwich City handed significant Borja Sainz transfer boost | OneFootball

Norwich are facing major pressure to hold onto the Spaniard this summer.

Norwich City have received a major boost in their hopes of holding onto Borja Sainz as one of the clubs potentially vying for his signature are now less likely to pursue the Spaniard.

As much as sporting director Ben Knapper and head coach Liam Manning have said that they want to keep Sainz and don't intend to sell him, the chances of that still being the case come the first day of September, when the summer transfer window shuts, are slim - that's according to local outlet The Pink Un.

Norwich have already rejected bids for the 24-year-old from Napoli and Porto, with those offers reported to be worth £12.7 million.

The Norfolk outlet have also stated that Sainz's preference this summer would be to return to the club where it all started for him: Athletic Bilbao.

The Basque forward came through the club's youth system, and this avenue was said to be the most likely one for Sainz to go down this summer.

A move back to Bilbao hinged on their own attacking star potentially leaving this summer, however.

22-year-old Nico Williams, who scored the first of Spain's goals in their 2-1 win over England in the Euro 2024 final, was being looked at by the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich this summer.

If he were to leave, Sainz, who scored 18 goals in the Championship last season, was seen as an ideal replacement option, as per Pink Un.

Athletic's unique recruitment policy only allows them to sign players who are born or trained in the Basque Country, which Sainz was. However, a move for the Norwich attacker is now less likely to happen though, as Williams has signed a new 10-year contract with Los Leones.

Barcelona have been unable to complete a move for the promising youngster because of registration issues, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Norwich should still be willing to offload Borja Sainz

Now that a move back to his preferred Spanish club is looking less likely, that doesn't mean Norwich are fully in the clear.

According to Pink Un, Napoli and Porto are expected to come back with fresh bids for the 24-year-old following their failed attempts earlier in the summer.

The Canaries are looking at a significant financial package for Sainz should they sell, for a player who has less than a year left on his current deal, and that is certainly something that the club shouldn't turn their nose up at.

While his overall record last season was strong, it was heavily carried by a huge purple patch before Christmas.

In 2025, Sainz only found the back of the net three times. He hasn't had the long-term consistency to suggest that he will be able to re-find that form in the new term, and so cashing in while they still can should be a real possibility for Norwich.