Sainz - will we keep him?

[The Great Mass Debater 1,269]

What do people think? I think he'll definitely be gone by the summer, but what about January? Most teams do their business in the summer with January a kind of emergency panic window. The market is usually inflated putting many teams off. 

Will we keep him til the end of the season? His contract being a issue - I'd be very surprised to see him sign a new one - I think he'd only do it to maybe be able to ask for more from another club in the summer, but it would strengthen the club's hand on fee therefore put off potential suitors. 

If he went in January what would be a fee that Norwich fans could be satisfied with? I would say 30m to be honest

[Satriales 1,051]

3 minutes ago, The Great Mass Debater said:

Will we keep him

No, unfortunately.

[Pyro Pete 2,395]

He will probably get snapped up in the summer.

Enjoy seeing him play while he's still here.

[Up and Away 120]

Would be very surprised if the club sold him in January. Next summer is more likely, especially if he is not prepared to sign a new deal.

This has been his breakout season, so as good as it has been, his CV is a little thin.

£30m seems to be the going rate for proven PL players. Fulham paid that for Smith Rowe who had lots of Arsenal appearances. Summerville went to WHU for £20m+ but had a season in the PL before last season in the Champ.  Both are a similar age to Sainz. So I would have him in the next level down, so £15-£20m possibly. 

But you never know with the transfer market.

[Gordon Bennett 948]

If he keeps this form up we'll get some big offers in the summer and as always if the player wants to go and play at a higher level then he'll be off.

That's football.

[GenerationA47 868]

31 minutes ago, The Great Mass Debater said:

I'd be very surprised to see him sign a new one - I think he'd only do it to maybe be able to ask for more from another club in the summer, but it would strengthen the club's hand on fee therefore put off potential suitors. 

I’d assumed it’s the other way around, the less the buyer has to fork out for the selling club’s fee (i.e. with no new contract in place) the more they can pay the player and suitors are essentially competing on the level of reward to him.

Anyway I agree with Pyro & Up, he’ll stay till the summer. There’s no sense flogging him asap given the current strategy is to invest cheaply in youth.* In terms of needing mucho cash to patch urgent holes it’s largely strikers we’ve missed, but Sargent should return in January, Crnac may be becoming an option and Barnes is back(up!), so not so desperate.
 

Summer makes sense so Knapper can plan the long term investment options and negotiate with buyers from now till June, banking on a decent return for Sainz.

 

*Edit: meaning mostly that unlike others, the club isn’t prepared desperately to hoard piles of gold to invest in one or two big-ticket probable season-winners (say, a RVW, Naismith, Rashica or Tzolis figure……)

Edited November 28, 2024 by GenerationA47

[Capt. Pants 5,152]

I think it would take a pretty mental offer for us to sell him in January. It looks as though we will still be in contention for top 6. 

Who knows what will happen in the summer but we're probably going to have to double his money to have a realistic hope of keeping him. 

He's a cheat code for the Championship though and we have to do everything to keep him. We've several players out of contract who are not really adding value such as Sorensen, Fassnacht, Hernandez and Hanley who will free up a bit of wages.

[Mason 47 2,024]

I think in January it would be teams he'd be less enamoured with, and our price would be £25-30m based on current form. He's looking like a promotion-winning asset, it would be a completely antithetical message to send to the wider football world to sell him in Jan.

I'm quite calm that it'll be the summer when there will be more teams and our price likely more Sara-like. 

[rock bus 1,107]

As others have said, I expect we will resist some speculative offers in January but inevitably will sell in the summer.

He is an absolute joy to watch and I genuinely think we have been lucky to have seen him play - so far this year he has been beyond both Buendia and Sara for me. It will be interesting to see if he can keep it up for the full season.

Presuming we dont go up in the summer, I'd love to see him go to a really top club in the premiership or abroad and not some middle/struggling prem team. 

[Up and Away 120]

1 minute ago, Mason 47 said:

I think in January it would be teams he'd be less enamoured with, and our price would be £25-30m based on current form. He's looking like a promotion-winning asset, it would be a completely antithetical message to send to the wider football world to sell him in Jan.

I'm quite calm that it'll be the summer when there will be more teams and our price likely more Sara-like. 

Most clubs spend most of their transfer budget in the summer window.  I cannot see a bottom half PL side taking a big money gamble on Sainz in Jan to keep them up.  The bigger risk could be someone like Leeds trying to poach him to get them over the line. Not sure they could afford him and would be amazed if the club or player would consider that type of offer.  Likely to be more choice and money next summer.

[Mason 47 2,024]

1 minute ago, Up and Away said:

Most clubs spend most of their transfer budget in the summer window.  I cannot see a bottom half PL side taking a big money gamble on Sainz in Jan to keep them up.  The bigger risk could be someone like Leeds trying to poach him to get them over the line. Not sure they could afford him and would be amazed if the club or player would consider that type of offer.  Likely to be more choice and money next summer.

Leeds are my pick, if they get promoted and we don't. Seems a good fit.

[Conrad 272]

£15m plus add ons in the summer, when he has only one year left on his contract. Would like more, but unproven in the Premiership so will be a gamble and only newly promoted or lower Premiership clubs likely to be interested. Hopefully a club in Spain will be interested and create some form of bidding war.

[cambridgeshire canary 7,932]

Depends on the offer. 20 million plus and he's off, even if it would be madness to sell him in Jan given he's 90 percent of the reason we are winning matches at the moment.

Edited November 28, 2024 by cambridgeshire canary

[Mengo 856]

47 minutes ago, The Great Mass Debater said:

What do people think? I think he'll definitely be gone by the summer, but what about January? Most teams do their business in the summer with January a kind of emergency panic window. The market is usually inflated putting many teams off. 

Will we keep him til the end of the season? His contract being a issue - I'd be very surprised to see him sign a new one - I think he'd only do it to maybe be able to ask for more from another club in the summer, but it would strengthen the club's hand on fee therefore put off potential suitors. 

If he went in January what would be a fee that Norwich fans could be satisfied with? I would say 30m to be honest

Big Frank , will go for him in January 🤫😂

[Newtopia 583]

I think there is a high chance he will go in January.  For the very reason that we would probably like to get top dollar for him, and teams are more desperate in that window.  Although some big earners are out of contract in the summer, we will need cash to build further. 
 

I was expecting Sargent to be our next big sale to some desperate club staving off relegation, yet.   BS looks a better prospect to me.

[Up and Away 120]

4 minutes ago, Newtopia said:

I think there is a high chance he will go in January.  For the very reason that we would probably like to get top dollar for him, and teams are more desperate in that window.  Although some big earners are out of contract in the summer, we will need cash to build further. 
 

I was expecting Sargent to be our next big sale to some desperate club staving off relegation, yet.   BS looks a better prospect to me.

I suspect that Sargent's injuries have killed a big money transfer, for now, at least. Physical durability is such a big thing in the PL that Josh would need to show potential suitors that he is over the run of injuries that have plagued him the last 18 months. 

[Capt. Pants 5,152]

4 minutes ago, Newtopia said:

 

I was expecting Sargent to be our next big sale to some desperate club staving off relegation, yet.   BS looks a better prospect to me.

I know we'd all like to keep both but if I had to choose between Sainz and Sargent I'd definitely keep Borja. With his dodgy fitness a big money sale for Josh is beginning to look unlikely?

[In my blood 120]

All depends on his agent, his family and friends. I like the guy but I think ncfc are down the list of his loyalties. I just hope Knapper can convince him otherwise.

[Mr Angry 2,094]

I thought he was going back to Bilbao?

[Mello Yello 2,588]

I personally think a decent European side will be more suited to Borja.....A Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French or maybe a Turkish top Club may show interest in him....I would personally be surprised if a top six Prem side put's a bid in for Borja either in Jan or cease of play in May....Even if by some freaky of nature we get promoted we are probably unable to offer him mucho pesetas so if a successful club suits him....he'll depart to pastures new....(But deffo not to Ecosse).... 😉 

Me? I'm just enjoying the moment, whilst he's here.....

[Mason 47 2,024]

37 minutes ago, Mr Angry said:

I thought he was going back to Bilbao?

This is the go-to rumour IMO as he represents one of a relatively small number of players Bilbao are able to sign. I don't know huge amounts about them, but it doesn't feel like they will have the sort of money to bring to the table we would accept. 

That's before you look at what Borja himself wants, there was a piece recently that suggests the Premier League are where his eyes are.

[Captain Holt 582]

1 hour ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

Depends on the offer. 20 million plus and he's off, even if it would be madness to sell him in Jan given he's 90 percent of the reason we are winning matches at the moment.

I don't think we're going to accept £20m for him in January when we're pretty much guaranteed to get that for him in the summer.

[Inch High aka Inchy.. 420]

We had this discussion on the train coming home Tuesday night, we decided we'll keep him in January but the club will accept a big(ish) offer in the summer window.

[Up and Away 120]

29 minutes ago, Captain Holt said:

I don't think we're going to accept £20m for him in January when we're pretty much guaranteed to get that for him in the summer.

Does the club have an option on his deal, or does it run out summer 26?

If Borja is going into the last year of his deal next summer and there is no club option, then I am not sure £20m would be guaranteed.

Edited November 28, 2024 by Up and Away

[ZLF 342]

La liga looks a likely fit given rumoured interest unless a prem club offers more wages.  His contract length is key but below £20m at the mo who be disappointing.

It changes if we are challenging for prem, but that is so dependent on injuries and problems a season too soon.

[Kenny Foggo 1,205]

Depends on our new owners. Best solution is he signs a new contract and keeps improving so his cost goes up. But if he won't sign then we will have to sell in the summer at the latest to get any substantial amount.

Don't think he'll go in January as although clubs are desperate and pay more, his replacement would cost more. Plus no one in the squad capable of filling the goal void if he left(with sargeant injured again).

[carrowman 3]

Hoping there is no Release Clause in his contract which is normally a norm with overseas players/agents, which isn't as high as he is now worth. 

[Capt. Pants 5,152]

23 minutes ago, carrowman said:

Hoping there is no Release Clause in his contract which is normally a norm with overseas players/agents, which isn't as high as he is now worth. 

Yeah good point. His agent seems pretty astute and wasn't it the relegation clause in his previous contract that triggered his move here, or did I just dream that?

[BigFish 2,330]

Probably a c£10 million premium if we sell in Jan. The difference between £25-30m and £15-20m so the club probably wouldn't be adverse to selling. But that would make him a bit pricey and I can't see anyone who has the cash wanting to spend it on him. So for me it is the Summer.

I expect Knapper and Borja's agent have had this conversation so no surprises and everyone knows where they stand. Unless something unforeseen like promotion crops up.😀

 

[hogesar 10,949]

1 hour ago, Kenny Foggo said:

Depends on our new owners. Best solution is he signs a new contract and keeps improving so his cost goes up. But if he won't sign then we will have to sell in the summer at the latest to get any substantial amount.

Don't think he'll go in January as although clubs are desperate and pay more, his replacement would cost more. Plus no one in the squad capable of filling the goal void if he left(with sargeant injured again).

I don't think the owners makes a difference here. It hasn't for many other clubs at Championship level with richer owners (Leeds a very good recent example