USMNT star Josh Sargent has become a “well-rounded” striker and will likely attract “real interest” in the next transfer window, says Chris Sutton.
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Moved to England in 2021Overcome form & fitness issuesCatching the eye with run of goalsWHAT HAPPENED?
The 24-year-old frontman, who formed part of his country’s squad at the 2022 World Cup, has endured struggles for form and fitness during his time in England. A purple patch has been enjoyed of late, taking him to 10 goals for the 2023-24 campaign, and his exploits with Norwich are being noted elsewhere.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT SUTTON SAID ABOUT SARGENT
Former Canaries forward Sutton has told the of Sargent playing to his full potential: “I don't think the jury is out on him anymore – but he does need to get into a rhythm and show some consistency. That is the next aim for him to propel his career even further. When he was out of Norwich’s team, it was obvious how much he was missed. Sargent will have been boosted even more by that. Scoring goals is about confidence, and he is oozing it at the moment. Given how he started his career at Norwich, he looks a player transformed. After a tough season in the Premier League, he was probably wondering whether he actually had a future at the club. Now the position has shifted where Norwich will be worrying about keeping him heading into the summer.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Sutton added on the admiring glances that will likely be shot in Sargent’s direction: “To play as a central striker successfully, you need to have a rounded set of attributes. Sargent is good in the air, good with his back to goal, and his link-up is okay. The thing that has surprised me is how much he's developed with his movement in behind. That is a part of his game that has improved drastically – perhaps that period behind Pukki helped him learn that side of the game. Not every striker has every single attribute, but he's pretty well-rounded in all departments. With his profile and age, I'm sure there will be people watching him closely and with real interest. But he needs to discover a consistency. He has missed a fair chunk of the campaign, and any potential suitors will want to see him do it over a more sustained period of time, especially given the money they'd likely have to pay to sign him.”
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR SARGENT?
Sargent, who joined Norwich in 2021 but registered just two Premier League goals before tumbling into the Championship, signed a new contract at Carrow Road in October that takes him through to 2028 – meaning that his valuation will remain high in the transfer market.
