Norwich legend Fleck hopes Sargent will stay

Josh Sargent's goal against Middlesbrough on Saturday could not save Norwich from a second home defeat of the new season

Norwich City legend Robert Fleck hopes Norwich City can hang on to captain Josh Sargent in the remaining days of the summer transfer window.

The USA international, City's current captain, has scored in all four games they have played for far this season.

But it is his all-round game that former Scotland forward Fleck believes makes him such a prized commodity.

"He's the man that kicks them off, he's the man that keeps them going. They always say it starts from the forward line and he's probably the best defensive forward in that league - he works his legs off," Fleck told BBC Radio Norfolk's The Scrimmage.

"Now that he's captain as well, it's given him a little bit more responsibility. If he stays injury-free and Norwich keep him, he'll be top goalscorer without a shadow of a doubt.

"If we can keep creating chances for him, we're in with half a chance [of having a good season]. Long may it continue."

Sargent joined Norwich from Werder Bremen for about £8m in the summer of 2021 and has turned down the chance to return to Germany and join VfL Wolfsburg.

The club are also believed to have received an approach from Burnley over the summer and sporting director Ben Knapper said last month that there was "big interest" in the player.

"It's a lot more open with contracts and clubs now going to agents and saying this club's after you, you can speak to them - I'm sure the boy has had six teams interested in him and it's credit to Norwich that he doesn't want to go back to Germany," said Fleck.

"Whatever the guy does, he deserves everything he gets because he's been a credit to Norwich City from day one. He's a gentleman, he's humble, so you wish him all the best."

Robert Fleck played for Norwich City in the 1980s and 1990s in two spells

Glasgow-born Fleck had two spells with Norwich during his playing career, the first one ending when he joined Chelsea.

He is aware from experience that sometimes moves to so-called bigger clubs can be a mistake.

"I knew I was going to Chelsea two years before it [happened]," he said.

"I was delighted to go there, I wanted to go there. Unfortunately it didn't work out for me.

"Sometimes the grass is not greener and I was lucky to get a chance to come back to Norwich."