Norwich City winger Borja Sainz attracted interest from first club Athletic Bilbao in the summer transfer window.
The 23-year-old notched the winner in last weekend’s Championship 1-0 victory at Coventry City, but reports in Spain suggest Sainz’s camp held close season talks with La Liga Bilbao.
Digital outlet, El Correo, claimed on Sunday morning Bilbao’s sporting director, Mikel González, contacted Sainz’s camp regarding his contract status at Carrow Road.
City view the attacker as a key part of Johannes Hoff Thorup’s squad, with that message communicated to Bilbao for this current season
Sainz signed a deal keeping him in Norfolk until 2026 when he joined as free agent from Turkish club Giresunspor following their relegation from the Super Lig in 2023.
Bilbao were reportedly drawing up plans to source replacements for Spain’s Euro2024 star, Nico Williams, had the €70m rated winger departed.
Bilbao view Sainz as a possible future target, with the Basque-born player on the books of Athletic in his youth.
El Correo claim Sainz would be open to a potential homecoming at the end of the current campaign, with Gonzalez’s association with the Spaniard going back to when he brought Sainz to Alaves in 2018 in a previous role as academy manager.
The City fan favourite has already notched three goals in six league and cup appearances this season, after 10 goal contributions in 41 appearances during his debut tour in England.
Norwich did sanction the departures of both Jon Rowe and Abu Kamara in the recent transfer window but Sainz has started every league game under Thorup this season.
“I like him because he’s an emotional guy and what you see is what you get,” said the City head coach. “There’s nothing being hidden or anything like this.
“He’s just all-out whenever we play games. Sometimes it’s important for teams and it’s very good for teams to have these players.
“When he’s out there and the game starts he’s going, he’s pressing, he’s running, he’s moving, he’s counter-pressing, he’s dribbling, he’s trying to shoot. He’s so involved, and that’s exactly what we need.
“Also he raises a good atmosphere with the crowd. He’s one of these players who can create that atmosphere in the stadium.
“He can do something on his own once in a while, and he can do brilliant shots and dribbles and stuff like this. I’ve been pleased with his pressing game, because he’s covered a lot of ground. I think he’s definitely moving in the right direction.”
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