Football League World
·7 November 2024
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·7 November 2024
FLW's Norwich City fan pundit has given his valuation for the club's two best players
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…
Norwich City have made a strong start to the current Championship season under new manager Johannes Hoff Thorup.
The Dane was put in charge in place of David Wagner and endured a tricky first summer in the role.
A number of key players departed Carrow Road, including Jonathan Rowe and Gabriel Sara.
The January transfer window could leave them open to further departures but Thorup will be keen to see his best players stay in order to aid their promotion ambition.
It was reported earlier this year by El Correo that Athletic Bilbao have an interest in signing Borja Sainz, while Norwich have previously rejected an offer from FC Cincinnati for Josh Sargent, according to Give Me Sport.
When asked what price tag would they put on the team’s two best players, FLW’s Norwich fan pundit Zeke Downes claimed both Sainz and Sargent could be worth between £20-25 million.
He believes Sainz’s hot streak to start this season will only increase his value, but raised concerns over Sargent’s price tag potentially decreasing.
“I think the best players are quite subjective, especially now Sargent is injured, but I would say him and Sainz would be the ones with the highest market value,” Downes told Football League World.
“And they probably have about the same, £20-25 million [market value] maybe.
“Sainz is running very hot right now and will be getting interest from clubs probably all over the world.
“He doesn’t look like he’s going to stop, so his price definitely skyrocketed.
“But with Sargent, it might have dropped a little bit now he’s got a little bit older, now he’s not got as many goals this season, but he’s got more assists, and the fact he’s now injured, so his might have dropped a tiny bit to £20 million.
“But also see that the market value is different to what the club would value, so it’s difficult to know.”
Sainz is currently the top scorer in the Championship, having made an electric start to the new campaign under Thorup.
The Spaniard has bagged 11 goals from 14 league appearances so far this season, while also contributing two assists.
Meanwhile, Sargent is currently absent through injury, with the forward set to be out for the next eight weeks, according to Pink Un.
The 24-year-old contributed four goals and five assists from 12 appearances in the second division prior to his latest fitness setback.
Sainz has been the standout figure in the Championship so far this season, and his performances have surely seen his price tag rise.
However, his contract is set to expire in the summer of 2026, which will be a cause for concern at Carrow Road.
The club will want to avoid him entering the final 12 months of his deal, otherwise they may be forced into a sale.
The injury to Sargent is also obviously a blow, with the forward performing well prior to his issue, even if he wasn’t as prolific in front of goal as he was in the previous campaign.