Liam Manning drops Josh Sargent update with Norwich City future in limbo | OneFootball

Liam Manning has urged Norwich City star Josh Sargent to keep his head down amid transfer 'noise'.

Norwich City boss Liam Manning has urged star striker Josh Sargent to keep his head down amid transfer "noise" ahead of the club's Championship kick-off on Saturday 9th August.

The American has been a constant source of speculation this summer, with plenty of interested clubs such as Bundesliga giants Wolfsburg looking to prize him away from Carrow Road, following a successful campaign last term.

The 25-year-old has endured a rough few days on City's pre-season tour in the Netherlands, suffering an accidental head collision in training, after pulling the plug on a £20m move to Wolfsburg, and then being forced off in the second half of their final friendly with ADO Den Haag with cramp.

However, new Canaries boss Manning has backed his star man, despite a rough start to pre-season, and all the speculation surrounding his future in Norfolk.

Norwich have two weeks ahead of the start of their Championship campaign, which starts at home to Millwall, and Manning has urged Sargent to keep his head down amid transfer rumblings.

Liam Manning urges Josh Sargent to keep his head down amid transfer "noise"

The Canaries were dealt a significant boost to their hopes ahead of the new Championship season when a move for Sargent from Wolfsburg collapsed, after the striker reportedly snubbed the chance to return to the German top flight.

In a recent interview with The Pink Un, Manning urged Sargent to block out the noise surrounding his future, and turn his attention to the start of the new Championship season.

The 38-year-old said: "It is tough for Sarge, there is so much noise.

"I think what he has done a terrific job of is just coming in and enjoying his football. The way he put himself about in this game, you could never question his focus.

"He competed, he led, and the last 10 days his impact on and off the pitch has been fantastic. I have said that to him.

"I’ve got a really good relationship with him and, because of that, I can just say to him, ‘Keep your head down and worry about your football until anything changes’.

"He is very much 'all in' on what we are doing at the moment.

“I’ll probably repeat what I have said already on this trip. Top person, top professional. You have seen in this game the connection he has with the fans," Manning concluded.

The collapse of the deal with Wolfsburg will come as a massive boost to Manning ahead of the new season, having lost another star of last season in Borja Sainz to FC Porto already.

The two had a combined goal tally of 33 in the Championship last term, so losing both Sargent and Sainz would leave the former Bristol City boss with two huge gaps to fill in his squad.

Interest in the American remains high, with Premier League sides Burnley and Leeds United the latest clubs to be linked with a swoop for the 15-goal striker this summer, but no deal seems imminent.

There's still over a month to go in the summer transfer window, so a lot can still happen, but Manning and Norwich will be hopeful of having a strong start to the season, which could help their chances of retaining Sargent.