Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie believes Norwich City will face a significant setback if they lose Josh Sargent and Borja Sainz in the summer transfer window.
While the Canaries are still in contention for a play-off spot in the Championship, the potential departure of two of their key players looms large, especially if they fail to secure promotion.
Recent reports have suggested that Sheffield United is interested in signing Sainz, as they push for automatic promotion to the Premier League. Similarly, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest are reportedly monitoring Sargent’s situation, with both clubs eyeing him this summer.
Lee Hendrie Discusses Impact of Potential Departures
Hendrie has expressed concern that losing both Sargent and Sainz would be a huge blow to Norwich’s ambitions. He argues that even with the two players still in the squad, the team needs reinforcements to remain competitive for promotion, and their departure would likely cause a regression.
Hendrie stated, “If Norwich lose Josh Sargent and Borja Sainz, it will be a huge blow. If anything, it highlights the club’s underperformance this season.”
He further added, “Expectations have been high for Norwich, but with some of their current players, I’m not sure they had the full potential to push for promotion this season. It would’ve been a tough challenge.”
Hendrie believes that Norwich’s squad is missing key players who could have bolstered their chances. He pointed out the importance of Sainz, who has been crucial in midfield with his goal-scoring, and Sargent, who has provided valuable contributions in attack with his ability to score goals and make runs behind the defense.
“If they lose these two key players, it will set Norwich back significantly. Replacing players of their caliber is incredibly challenging in the Championship,” Hendrie warned.
Norwich Must Retain at Least One Key Player
Currently sitting 10th in the Championship, five points adrift of the play-off places, Norwich faces a pivotal summer. Losing one of either Sargent or Sainz seems likely, but the club must do everything they can to avoid selling both in one go.
The Canaries faced a similar issue last summer when they sold Jonathan Rowe and Gabriel Sara, which negatively impacted the team’s performance. Losing two more influential players could deepen these problems and hurt their future prospects.
While Norwich could make a substantial profit from selling either player, there’s significant risk in reinvesting that money back into the squad, especially if done all at once. Sainz, with a contract running until 2026, may be the more likely to be sold, though Sargent, tied to Norwich until 2028, could also attract interest.
If both players do leave, it could have a lasting impact on the team’s ability to push for promotion in the coming seasons.
