Wrexham have been given a fresh update on a player they were advised could strengthen Phil Parkinson’s squad
Wrexham have been handed a significant boost ahead of Saturday’s Championship fixture at the Racecourse Ground, with Norwich City striker Josh Sargent ruled out of the match. Canaries boss Philippe Clement revealed on Friday that the 25-year-old has been disciplined and ordered to train with the club’s second team following what he termed “unacceptable behaviour”.
It comes after the US international allegedly refused to make himself available for Norwich’s FA Cup third round victory over Walsall last weekend. The news follows reports linking Sargent with a £13.5million transfer to MLS outfit Toronto FC during the January window, as he seeks regular first-team action before the upcoming World Cup on American soil.
Whilst Wrexham haven’t been officially linked with a move for Sargent, his name has been mentioned in relation to the Red Dragons. Ex-Wales and Norwich frontman Iwan Roberts suggested it would be an astute piece of business if they decided to pursue him.
However, any potential deal now seems improbable after Norwich slapped a notional £100million valuation on the striker – a sum even Wrexham’s Hollywood backers Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac are unlikely to entertain.
Speaking to BBC Radio Norfolk, Clement said: “I’m not going into details about what this is about and what the future will be because I don’t have a crystal ball, but he knows why he is training with the second team and we will see how it evolves in the future.
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Clement clarified Norwich’s stance on a potential January departure, adding: “In football, you can never say never. If somebody comes tomorrow to pay £100m for Josh, he will go. Saying no to everything will not be the case, but only if it’s something that’s a win situation for the club (will he leave).
“What’s really important in this situation is we’re in a relegation battle, so that was clear in this transfer window that we don’t have any intentions to sell Josh.”
The idea of Wrexham making a bid for Sargent was suggested by Roberts during an appearance on the Fearless in Devotion podcast earlier this week.
He said: “I think it would be a really good addition, because he’s a good player. He’s good with his back to goal and he can score goals. I still think in this division, it would be a welcome addition to any club.” However, the BBC pundit did point out a potential hurdle, given Kieffer Moore’s status as Wrexham’s leading striker.
Roberts added: “I think that would be a big issue for Sargent. He wants to be starting every game from now until the end of the season because of the World Cup in his home country.”
Sargent, who joined Norwich from Werder Bremen in August 2021, has netted 56 goals in 157 appearances for the club, including eight in 25 matches this season. The Canaries, currently third from bottom, are facing a tough relegation battle ahead of Saturday’s match against Wrexham.
Meanwhile, Phil Parkinson’s team are currently in ninth place, just a point shy of the play-off positions, following their penalty shootout victory against Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup last Friday.
