Championship transfers: Norwich City set Sargent stance as Stoke City eye Man Utd deal
The latest transfer talk from across the Championship as the January transfer window opens for business.
The January transfer window is open for business and one of Portsmouth’s main relegation rivals have moved quickly to set their stance over the future of one of their key players.
Speculation over striker Josh Sargent’s future at Norwich City has been ongoing for a number of months after the former Werder Bremen man plundered his way to 56 goals in 156 appearances in all competitions during a four-year stay at Carrow Road. The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the Championship’s most prolific strikers with 51 of those goals coming in 120 second tier games and that has reportedly attracting the attention of a number of Premier League clubs in recent months.
However, current Canaries head coach Philippe Clement has moved quickly to warn off interest from possible suitors as the transfer window opens for business by suggesting he expects Sargent to remain with the club when the window comes to a close early next month.
Speaking to the Pink Un, Clement said of the speculation surrounding the United States international: “I want him to be here. I expect him to be here. We want to keep our best players. But I will not spend the next weeks discussing any speculation. Only this one time.”
Stoke City move to secure Manchester United deal
Stoke City are reportedly keen to deliver a blow to Sheffield Wednesday by pursuing a loan deal for Manchester United youngster Harry Amass.
The Red Devils defender has spent the first half of the Championship season on loan with the Owls and has made 17 appearances during what has been a difficult campaign for Henrik Pedersen’s side. The Wednesday boss has already stated the Owls ‘will do everything’ to retain his services during the second half of the season and allow him to continue his development at Hillsborough.
"I think he has had a fantastic development," Pedersen said of Amass last month. "A bit like Charlie [McNeill], a big talent, but what is big talent? With young players, we know they can do something, and then they are a little bit sometimes good, sometimes not good. Sometimes there's a big difference in the level of the performance. I think Harry started the season very well, then he had a little bit where he went down. Not down, but where it was more unstable. But then in the last five, six games he has been very strong.
"He does a great job, and he does a great job together with his teammates because, again, nobody can do something alone - and it is the same for Harry. But Harry has played a fantastic season. I'm sure that we will do everything to keep him, and I'm also sure that for Harry and for United it's a good match right now."
However, Football Insider have reported Stoke have ‘expressed an interest’ in securing a loan deal for Amass and have ‘made contact’ with the Red Devils over a possible agreement during the January transfer window.
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