Wrexham have received an update on players advised to strengthen Phil Parkinson’s squad.
Even Rob Mack and Ryan Reynolds won’t want to raise the price on Josh Sargent’s head (Image: ITV)
Wrexham have received significant reinforcements ahead of Saturday’s Championship game at the Racecourse Grounds, with Norwich City striker Josh Sargent ruled out of the match. Canaries manager Philippe Clement revealed on Friday that the 25-year-old had been disciplined and ordered to train with the club’s second team for what he described as “unacceptable conduct”.
This comes after the USA international reportedly refused to play in Norwich’s FA Cup third round tie against Walsall last weekend. The news follows reports that Sargent could move to MLS side Toronto FC for £13.5 million in January, with Sargent aiming to break into regular first-team action ahead of the World Cup on American soil.
Wrexham are not officially involved in Sargent’s move, but his name has been mentioned in connection with the Red Dragons. Former Wales and Norwich frontman Ivan Roberts suggested it would be smart business if they decided to pursue him.
However, a deal now seems unlikely after Norwich have placed a nominal £100m valuation on the striker, a sum that even Wrexham’s Hollywood backers Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mack are unlikely to match.
Clement told BBC Radio Norfolk in an interview: “I don’t have a crystal ball so I won’t go into detail about what this means and what’s going to happen, but he knows why he’s been training with the second team and we’ll see how that develops in the future.”
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Clement clarified Norwich’s position on the possibility of him leaving in January, adding: “In football, you can never say never. If someone came tomorrow to pay £100 million for Josh, he would leave. I’m not saying no to everything, but only if it’s a win-win situation for the club (he will leave).”
“What’s really important in this situation is that we’re in a relegation battle, so it was clear in this transfer window that we had no intention of selling Josh.”
Norwich City striker Josh Sargent will miss the Canaries Championship game at Wrexham (Image: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
The idea of Wrexham making a bid for Sargent was floated by Mr Roberts during an appearance on the Fearless in Devotion podcast earlier this week.
“I think he’ll be a really good addition because he’s a good player, he’s got a good goal-oriented attitude and he can score goals. I still think he’s a welcome addition for any club in this department.” However, the BBC pundit pointed out potential hurdles given Kieffer Moore’s status as Wrexham’s main striker.
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Roberts added: “I think that’s going to be a big problem for Sargent. He wants to start every game from now until the end of the season because of the World Cup in his home country.”
Sargent joined Norwich from Werder Bremen in August 2021 and has scored 56 goals in 157 appearances for the club, including eight goals in 25 games this season. The Canaries, currently third from bottom, face a tough relegation battle ahead of Saturday’s game against Wrexham.
Meanwhile, Phil Parkinson’s side currently sit in ninth place, just one point out of the play-off places, following their penalty shoot-out victory over Premier League side Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup last Friday.
