Ben Knapper made it clear it is going to take big bids to ‘prise’ Josh Sargent out of Norwich City in the transfer window.
City’s sporting director indicated on Monday morning at the official unveiling of new head coach, Liam Manning, there are no offers yet on the table for the prolific Championship striker.
Borja Sainz is the club’s other prized asset, with Knapper confirming formal offers have landed, but nowhere near City’s valuation for last season’s 18-goal top scorer.
Both Sainz and Sargent made the Championship team-of-the-season and City are ready to play hard ball in the summer trading window.
Athletic and Villarreal are both admirers of Sainz, while clubs in Italy and Portugal are also on the winger’s trail.
“Listen, we’ve had multiple formal offers (for Borja),” said Knapper. “There’s no surprise for a player at that level who performed how he did last season. There’s big interest from particularly a couple of different clubs, but there’s others circling as well. We’ve had formal proposals, but nothing’s quite met our valuation.
“Those discussions are ongoing. Let’s see how they conclude. Of course he’s a player with big interest in the market, but it’s still early, and as I said, it’s got to be right for us. We’ve shown an ability, I think, at this club long before my time, to sell players really well. It’s part of our strategy, and that’ll be no different with Borja.
“With Josh, no formal proposals as of yet. Again, there’s a lot of noise in the market. There’s a lot of clubs that are assessing and circling. We know that. Again, he’s a player that’s proven at this level, and he’s, in my opinion, the best striker in the league. So that’s natural.
“But you know Josh has got three years left on his contract and whilst we understand that he’s going to have interest in the market, and that’s natural for a player of that level, we’re in a strong position as a club, and of course, let’s see how things develop. But somebody’s going to have to come a big level, I think, to prise them away.”
Borja Sainz is a hot property for Norwich City this summer (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
New boss Manning rates the attacking duo highly but is relaxed about the potential to lose the pair.
“It’s quite clear. You have to work for today, you have to work for tomorrow, and you have to work for six to 12 months time,” he said. “I think that’s our responsibility to the club. Some of the ones you mentioned there are top, top players for the level, you know, and naturally they’ll have an interest.
“But again, I think it has to be right for the club. You have to be reactive. But at the same time, I know we’re hugely proactive behind the scenes to make sure that whatever happens, whatever outcome, we move on and make sure that above everything the club’s in the best spot.”
Knapper previously indicated the club were keen on a potential reunion with Aston Villa’s wide player Lewis Dobbin, who suffered a calf injury that cut short a promising loan spell.
“It’s still the same situation. He’s still rehabilitating from his calf injury. That’s going well. Discussions are ongoing,” said the City chief. “No clarity yet on which way that’ll land. We’ve still got time. So let’s see how things move in the next few weeks.”
The first part of the summer transfer window closes on Tuesday, before it re-opens on June 16 and runs until September 1.
City have so far completed deals for Jacob Wright and keeper Dan Grimshaw from Plymouth.