Josh Sargent to leave Norwich City? Fresh Nottingham Forest transfer update emerges | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest have joined the race for Norwich City striker Josh Sargent

Nottingham Forest are the latest club to join the race for Norwich City USMNT forward Josh Sargent, with the 25-year-old's Canaries future in doubt in light of his recent refusal to be included in the squad for the club's FA Cup tie against Walsall.

As per Mike McGrath via X, Nottingham Forest are the latest club to have shortlisted Norwich forward Josh Sargent ahead of a potential January switch.

Sargent, who has hit double digits in each of his last three campaigns in the Championship, recently refused to play in Norwich's FA Cup clash at home to Walsall, with the American angling for a route out of Carrow Road this January.

MLS side Toronto FC had submitted an $18 million (£13.5 million) bid for Sargent last week, as per Fabrizio Romano.

With the Canaries embroiled in a battle at the bottom of the division, in an ideal world, they would be keeping Sargent at the club, but such as the form of teammate Jovon Makama this campaign, a January exit may well be on the cards, with Forest the latest side to register an interest.

Nottingham Forest joins the race for Norwich City striker Josh Sargent

Indeed, Forest is not the only club interested in Sargent. As well as the aforementioned bid from Toronto, the 25-year-old has also been the subject of interest from the likes of Leeds United and Burnley during the summer, and most recently, West Ham.

Though with Leeds having signed Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, Burnley with Lyle Foster and the signing of Armando Broja, and West Ham having completed the double swoop of striker duo Pablo Felipe and Valentin Castellanos, a move to any of those clubs now appears unlikely.

Sargent was close to completing a move away from Norfolk during the summer window, with Norwich having accepted a £21 million bid from German side VFL Wolfsburg, only for the American to turn the move down.

Instead, he chose to remain at Carrow Road, in what is his fifth season at the club, but whether he will complete his fifth year at Carrow Road now appears to be unlikely in light of recent events.

Forest, led by Sean Dyche, have been without New Zealand forward Chris Wood for much of this campaign due to injury, having hit 34 Premier League goals in the last two seasons alone, and are now targeting reinforcements in that area.

With Igor Jesus offering competition, Sargent may well remain in England and make the step up to the top flight once more, much to the disappointment of Norwich supporters.

Josh Sargent's transfer saga will come as a huge blow to Philippe Clement and Norwich City

There will be fewer people more disappointed in light of Sargent's action than Norwich boss Philippe Clement.

The Belgian has overseen an upturn of form and performances at Carrow Road since taking the place of Liam Manning in the Canaries dugout, though the club still find themselves in the bottom three after the halfway stage in the campaign.

The general consensus around the division is that Norwich will likely climb their way to safety in due course, though they will likely find that feat much more difficult without Sargent, despite the form of Makama.

Sargent has made over 150 appearances for Norwich in all competitions, whilst racking up over 70 goal contributions, remaining an almost ever-present when fit in the side.

Losing him now, and in this fashion, will no doubt sting for Norwich fans. If he indeed does make the switch to Forest or elsewhere, the money they receive for the American must be spent wisely, otherwise fears of relegation could continue to increase.