Josh Sargent tipped to be 'tempted' by Nottingham Forest as Norwich City fears raised | OneFootball

FLW's Norwich City fan pundit has given his reaction to reports that Josh Sargent is on Nottingham Forest's list of January transfer targets.

With just over two weeks left in the January transfer window, Norwich are facing a major battle to hold on to striker Josh Sargent.

Sargent joined Norwich from German side Werder Bremen for a fee of £8 million in the summer of 2021, and after a tough first year at Carrow Road in the Premier League, he has hit double figures for goals in each of the last three seasons in the Championship.

Despite the Canaries spending much of the campaign in the relegation zone, Sargent has been a reliable source of goals once again this season, but his future at the club was thrown into serious doubt last weekend when he informed head coach Philippe Clement that he did not wish to be considered for selection for the FA Cup clash against Walsall.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed on Sunday that MLS side Toronto FC had made an $18 million (£13.3 million) bid for Sargent, with negotiations underway between the two clubs over a potential deal, but it appears they are not the only side interested in the 25-year-old.

According to The Telegraph reporter Mike McGrath, Sargent is also on Nottingham Forest's list of striker targets this month, with Reds manager Sean Dyche admitting this week that the club are "a bit short" in the forward areas after allowing Arnaud Kalimuendo to join Eintracht Frankfurt.

Clement confirmed on Friday that Sargent is currently training with the reserves after his "unacceptable" behaviour, and in response to the latest rumours about the striker's future, he claimed that "if someone comes to pay £100m for Josh, he will go".

Nottingham Forest tipped to beat Toronto in Josh Sargent, Norwich City transfer race

When asked if he is concerned that Sargent could be tempted by a move to Nottingham Forest, FLW's Norwich City fan pundit Zeke Downes admitted that he believes a move to the City Ground would be a more attractive option for the US international, but he suggested that he could still favour a switch to Toronto to be closer to his family.

"I think that he would absolutely be tempted by this option because they are in the Premier League," Zeke told FLW.

"If his main goal is to make it in the World Cup squad, then being in the Premier League will help, and he could very well get a starting spot there.

"Personally, I think that's a better option than moving to Toronto, but if he wants to be nearer to his family, if that's a big pull, then obviously you can see why he would rather to go to Toronto.

"Toronto is not where his family are from, but I think it's around 2 hours away, rather than 12.

"I think it all depends on what he wants and what his family want.

"If it's purely down to the fact that he wants to make it into the World Cup squad, I'd say a move to Forest would be better.

"But if it's about moving closer to his family, then obviously Toronto would be the better option."

Josh Sargent, Norwich City exit looks inevitable despite bold Philippe Clement comments

It is far from the first time that Sargent has been linked with a move away from Norwich, with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg reportedly having a €19 million bid rejected for the striker in the summer, but it seems more likely than ever that he will be departing the club this month.

While Clement has insisted that Sargent will not be sold, it appears he is determined to push for a move before the end of the window, and having refused to play and been banished to the reserves, it will be difficult for him to come back into the fold after his recent actions.

The Canaries will be incredibly reluctant to lose Sargent in the middle of a relegation battle, but they will at least receive a significant fee if they were to cash in on him, and with Jovan Makama currently in fine form, his exit may not be as damaging as it perhaps could have been.