Matt Scrafton's verdict on Burnley's 3-2 defeat to West Ham
Burnley have been blasted for their cut-price approach for Norwich City striker Josh Sargent.
A reported approach from Burnley for Norwich City striker Josh Sargent has drawn an incredulous reaction from Darren Huckerby.
According to journalist Alan Nixon, Burnley are planning to return to the table for Sargent this January after seeing interest knocked back during the summer transfer window. If Nixon’s report is correct, it’s little wonder Norwich turned Burnley away, with the Clarets understood to have tabled a fee of just £1.5million, for a striker who has 29 senior caps for the United States and whose contract runs until the summer of 2028.
Sargent has scored five goals in the Championship so far this season, having registered totals of 15, 16 and 13 across the last three seasons, respectively.
Darren Huckerby laughs off Burnley’s Josh Sargent approach
Many Norwich fans will likely find Burnley’s summer offer for Sargent - who has a Transfermarkt market value of €20m - quite insulting.
Indeed, the club’s former forward, Darren Huckerby, has laughed off the reported fee as not even being good enough to afford his own dodgy hip, let alone a striker of Sargent’s calibre.
“You couldn’t get my knackered right hip for that kind of money!” former Canaries forward Huckerby - who registered 48 goals and 26 assists in 203 appearances for the club between 2003 and 2008 - wrote on X, with three cry-laughing emojis.
Huckerby was also asked in the comments what he would be worth in today’s market, replying: “A lot!”
Many Norwich fans have reacted in a similar vein to Huckerby, with one replying: “That's ridiculous, surely there's a digit missing at least, maybe you've got to cash in though.”
Another, meanwhile, suggested Norwich chief executive Ben Knapper should be ‘banished’ if Sargent is allowed to leave Carrow Road for such a low fee.
Do Burnley need another striker?
Burnley’s promotion campaign last season was undoubtedly built upon an incredible rearguard effort, with their 16 goals conceded comfortably the fewest in a single Championship campaign. Their 69 goals scored was also behind only Leeds United (95) and, ironically, Norwich (71). However, that hasn’t fully translated into the Premier League.
Scott Parker’s side have scored a respectable 14 goals so far, outscoring the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Everton. However, that total has come from just 8.2 ‘xG for’, according to FBref, which is the lowest in the Premier League. Those figures suggest that Burnley need to start generating better chances, while Jaidon Anthony (4) and Zian Flemming (3) being the only two players on more than two goals could also show that another striker added to the ranks wouldn’t hurt.
Burnley’s goalscoring cause has not been helped by the fact that summer arrival Armando Broja has been restricted to just 75 Premier League minutes so far this season due to fitness issues. The Clarets are 17th in the Premier League heading into the latest international break, level with West Ham in 18th on 10 points. A tough test at home to third-place Chelsea awaits when Premier League action returns on 22nd November.
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