Norwich City Manager Confirms Josh Sargent Will Not Leave in January Transfer Window
Norwich City manager Philippe Clement has announced that striker Josh Sargent will remain with the club during the January transfer window, following Sargent's decision to make himself unavailable for Sunday’s FA Cup third-round victory over Walsall.
The 25-year-old United States international had started the previous three Championship matches for Norwich but was notably absent from the squad that triumphed 5-1 against Walsall at Carrow Road.
Sargent, who joined Norwich from Werder Bremen in August 2021, has been the subject of interest from various clubs, including Major League Soccer's Toronto FC, during the summer transfer window.
Clement revealed, "Josh sent me a message on Saturday evening indicating that he would not be available due to transfer-related concerns. This is certainly not something we desire and will have repercussions. We need to discuss this internally, but the club has made it clear to both Josh and his agent that he will not be leaving this transfer window."
In a separate conversation with BBC Radio Norfolk, Clement elaborated, "Josh texted me yesterday evening, as he was typically part of the selection, to inform me he would not be available for this match. However, I do not want to draw too much attention to this matter, as the players who participated deserve recognition for their performance, training, and contributions on the field."
When asked if Sargent mentioned any injury or desire to leave the club, Clement stated, "He indicated that he was not injured. We will discuss this further later in the week at the club to determine the appropriate course of action."
During Sargent's absence, Norwich delivered a convincing performance against Walsall, with Jovon Makama scoring a hat-trick to secure a place in the fourth round. Makama has now surpassed Sargent as Norwich's leading scorer this season, netting 12 goals compared to Sargent's eight.
Clement praised Makama's development, stating, "Jovon is making significant improvements. The coaching staff is working diligently with him, as with all players, on the finer details to enhance their skills. He has already scored more goals this season than he did last season in a lower league with Lincoln, which is encouraging. He must maintain his hunger and determination to improve in every aspect of his game, as he is still young and has much to learn. However, he is showing great potential, and I am pleased with his progress."