Norwich City sporting director Ben Knapper has revealed some major contract news involving a “brilliant” ace and a “lion” in the Canaries’ squad according to a new report.
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The Canaries are back in action on Saturday, as they travel to Blackburn for the lunch time kick-off. Ahead of the game in Lancashire, head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup has revealed some important team news.
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Thorup has revealed that midfielder Kenny McLean will miss the game at Ewood Park through illness, but they are hopeful he will be back for their next match, which is against Oxford United.
Forward Lewis Dobbin is going to be part of the matchday squad, despite the fact he came off at half-time against Stoke City in the last match.
Thorup was also asked about striker Josh Sargent, who has scored three goals in his last two games, and the Norwich coach had some advice for the USA international: “He can be out of the game for periods, and we want him to push a bit more to always be involved. When he is involved, he’s such a big threat.”
Norwich chief reveals double contract talks
As the Canaries prepare for the game against Blackburn, sporting director Knapper has told Pink Un that contract talks with Borja Sainz and Marcelino Nunez are ongoing, and he remains relaxed about their futures.
The midfield duo have been key performers for Norwich this season, but with them both now in the final 18 months of their contracts, teams around Europe have taken notice and there has been transfer interest in recent transfer windows.
The pair will enter the final 12 months of their contracts in the summer, and therefore, Knapper has revealed that work has begun to secure their futures at the club.
“There are conversations ongoing in both cases. There’s been good dialogue with the camps of both of those players, and that will continue. Ultimately, these things take time, and you need to try to find alignment between all parties. There’s no conclusion either way on any of those scenarios.
“I’m sure as the coming weeks play out, and we start to see how things look for us as a club in terms of the play-offs, the potential involvement in those, and the possibility of us not even being in this division next year – that will obviously have an impact as well, particularly from the players’ perspective. They are both live issues, but at the same time, we’re relaxed about it. Things will play out in the way they do, and we’ll react. I’m sure we will get a good outcome for the club, whatever the situation.”
Sainz, who has been dubbed “brilliant” by Thorup this season, has played 29 times in the Championship, while Nunez, who was described as a “lion” by David Wagner, has played 22 games. Sainz has started every league game he has been available for this season, while Nunez has started all but two, as both have been among the goals and assists.
The pair have been real key performers, but the chances of extending their stay at Carrow Road could depend on whether they achieve promotion or not, currently sitting four points off the play-offs.
