Reports indicate that the 23-year-old has expressed a clear intention to join Gala, even as the Canaries stand firm on their plans to retain him through the January transfer window.
Norwich, however, remain resolute. The club reportedly values the winger at €22 million, a sum Galatasaray are unlikely to meet. At a recent AGM, soon-to-be majority shareholder Mark Attanasio emphasised that selling Sainz was not a necessity.
“We don’t need to sell Borja in January. Frankly, we don’t need to sell him ever,” said Attanasio. “We can control what we can control, in regards to what happens to our players.”
Norwich’s sporting director Ben Knapper confirmed ongoing discussions with Sainz’s representatives about extending his contract, further underlining the club’s commitment to keeping their star player.
Galatasaray’s pursuit of Sainz comes after a successful summer signing of Gabriel Sara from Norwich in a deal exceeding £20 million. Sara has already made a significant impact in Turkey, notching two goals and five assists in 12 league appearances.
Who is Borja Sainz?
Sainz began his youth career at Lagun Artea before joining Athletic Bilbao’s Lezama academy in 2012. In 2017, he moved to Deportivo Alavés, making his senior debut with their B team in 2018. Sainz made his La Liga debut for Alavés in August 2019, becoming the first player born in the 21st century to appear for the club’s senior side. He scored his first top-flight goal in June 2020 against Real Sociedad.
In August 2021, he was loaned to Real Zaragoza in the Segunda División, where he made 32 appearances and scored three goals. Sainz signed with Turkish club Giresunspor the following year, netting nine goals in 32 matches. In June 2023, he joined Norwich City on a three-year contract. By December 2024, Sainz had scored 21 goals in 51 appearances for Norwich, including a notable hat-trick against Plymouth Argyle, making him the Championship’s top scorer and attracting interest from clubs like Athletic Club and, obviously, Galatasaray.
Site Opinion
From Galatasaray’s perspective, the addition of Borja Sainz could be a pivotal moment for their ambitions this season. The Spaniard’s agility, creativity, and proven record in the Championship make him an ideal fit for Okan Buruk’s dynamic attack. With Gabriel Sara already thriving, Sainz’s arrival would bolster an already formidable squad.
However, Norwich’s reluctance to part with their star winger is understandable. Galatasaray must navigate this transfer delicately, perhaps negotiating creative financial structures or add-ons to sweeten the deal. The Turkish champions’ history of successful negotiations suggests that securing Sainz, while challenging, is not beyond reach.
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