Norwich City column: Best striker in the Championship Josh Sargent looks to have outgrown the Canaries

The late winner against West Brom on Saturday, finished with real style, was the USA international’s 13th goal of the season – an impressive feat considering he has only played 25 times.

It’s clear there is already major interest in Sargent, something which should be expected. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, he is the best striker in the Championship – and it’s not even close.

And at 25-years-old, you can argue that his best years are still very much ahead of him.

With that in mind, keeping Sargent would be a massive coup for the club, as we look to push for promotion next season.

If fit and healthy, Sargent is good enough to spearhead that charge – and capable of hitting the 25-goal mark.

But at this moment in time, I would say the reality is that a departure looks the most likely outcome.

If we’re completely honest, Sargent has probably outgrown the club. His development over the last few years has been significant – and he is now ready to play at a higher level.

From Sargent’s perspective, he has a home World Cup to think about in the summer of 2026. He will want to do everything in his power to make sure he is leading the line for the USA in what can only be described as a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The good news is, that with a contract running until 2028, Ben Knapper has a strong hand when it comes to negotiating a good fee.

I wouldn’t expect Sargent to leave for anything less than £25m, when you consider he has already been linked to clubs in the Premier League, across Europe and the MLS.

A difficult task, but that kind of money should at least, hopefully, make it slightly easier when it comes to sourcing a replacement.