6 - No player in the top 4 leagues of English football has scored more league goals than Josh Sargent (6) since the beginning of February (tied with Bukayo Saka and Iké Ugbo). Attention. pic.twitter.com/iOVCzorU1l— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) March 2, 2024
Hell yea. A fair bit of luck on the pop off his back and getting a toe to the ball in front of the defender on the bounce but the kid is on fire. Looking a bit more like the player who bossed the youth levels...
"try to" perhaps. It's not beyond plausible that Norwich see Sarge as a long-term asset to help them get promoted. It's also possible Sarge would buy in to that argument. But he has to already be on some folks lists and the biggest question is likely how much any team might be willing to spend on someone they likely see as cover.
Norwich would expect a fair price but if an EPL team was willing to pay, it would be considered pretty bad to block such a move. It would hurt the club buying young players.
I of course would leave the Championship for the EPL too if I had the chance. But which is more enjoyable for a 9, scoring goals on a top Championship club or playing all defense and getting zero goals on a really bad EPL team?
Sure, but it will, of course, matter how each party defines a "fair price." Norwich reportedly sold Max Aarons to B'mouth for between 8 - 12 mill LBS (including add-ons). Obviously LB and hot-hand striker are different birds, but I can't imagine that kind of money getting a return phone call from anyone unless it was a dream-club for Josh. Scots' winger Harvey Barnes supposedly went to NUFC from Lester for 44 mill... Adams was reported close to 30 mill, iirc... I'd imagine getting up in that range becomes more difficult to ignore.
Adams and Barnes were only nominally Championship players; they were bought from relegated teams. Sargent has a bad track record in the Prem, which dings his price a fair bit. Plus, with new FFP rules, £15-20 mil would definitely do it.
Dunno that Norwich is much off the defintion of being bought from a relegated team either. I'm hoping Norwich promotes, but if not it will be interesting to see what becomes of Sarge if he keeps scoring
Doubt any clubs look at Joshs first season in the EPL, at 21, playing as a winger on a poor Norwich City side and ding his current price for it. That’s way in the rear view mirror.
Scouts will consider more variables than a "bad track record". They'll also focus on the last 6-9 months. What happened at Norwich has no bearing on him today or his next stop. Actually, that Josh has experience in the EPL and is familiar with the tempo/defenses would be a positive to EPL clubs.
I know it’s what we do - but I’m just kinda enjoying a breakout season after he looked hopeless of scoring at times. I’m totally clueless about whether he’d be effective at the next level but pretty cool he’s succeeding in a rough and tumble league like this.
The simple fact that he found the game and no longer just looks like a passenger out there is huge. He is developing.
These are the top scores from the Championship last season, how many goals per 90 they scored, and where they went after the season: Chuba Akpom, 28 goals, 0.81 goals/90, moved to Ajax for €12 mill Viktor Gyokeres, 21 goals, 0.47 goals/90, moved to Sporting for €20 mill Carlton Morris, 20 goals, 0.53 goals/90, went up with Luton Joel Piroe, 19 goals, 0.45 goals/90, moved to Leeds dropping down to C'ship, for €14 mill Tom Bradshaw, 17 goals, 0.50 goals/90, stayed at Millwall (he's 31) Nathan Tella, 17 goals, 0.61 goals/90, moved to Bayer Leverkusen for €23 mill Josh has 11 goals so far with 1.08 goals/90.
Josh just signed a new contract so its not necessarily a sure thing he’s sold this summer from the contract length perspective. Idk if Norwich will feel the need to sell based on club finances. He’s probably being considered by every EPL team in the bottom half and the top few championship sides looking to be promoted. Leeds for sure. Bigger clubs on the continent are also a possibility.
None of them move to a top club in a top league. I personally like to see Josh continue with Norwich and grow. Help them get promoted to EPL and thrive there with the club. Maybe one day become a legend at the club like McBride.
I’m just looking for Sargent to eclipse and surpass Teemu Puuki’s status and goal scoring record for Norwich in the Championship. Sargent is certainly capable and more versatile than Puuki. I’d love to see Sargent continue to grow at Norwich instead of looking / wishing for a future move. He’s in a great situation. Let him cook.
He's in a great spot this season, but if Norwich are promoted they will be a very poor team in a cut-throat league. Josh will see very little of the ball and would be asked to do a great deal. Might be a good experience for him, but I'd rather see a Brighton or Brentford (hard as it is to say that) take him on. Would love to see him at Fulham, but we are too cheap to buy him.