Sky Sports Recent Borja Sainz exploits at Norwich City point to potential Canaries transfer boost.

Norwich City have struggled for consistency in the Championship this season, as evidenced by the fact that they are the division’s joint-second highest scorers but remain outside the play-offs.

However, a four-game unbeaten streak, which includes three triumphs, including Saturday’s 2-1 win against Frank Lampard’s Coventry City, has brought the Canaries within four points of the top six. Meanwhile, the Canaries’ excellent offence is primarily driven by forward Borja Sainz, who has 15 goals in 26 games and now leads the Championship’s golden boot race.

However, Sainz has been off the pace in recent weeks, having not scored since his side’s 4-2 victory over Luton Town in late November. Manager Johannes Hoff Thorup particularly missed his attacker’s goalscoring exploits when the Norfolk outfit went on a four-game winless streak in December, including a 3-0 defeat at the hands of a then-lowly Queens Park Rangers.

Sainz’s recent poor form could be a blessing in disguise for the Canaries

Above all, Canaries fans will be concerned about whether their team will make the play-offs for the second year in a row at the end of the season. Hoff Thorup’s men are currently four points behind the top six, however some supporters believe the gap could be narrower if Sainz maintained his previous goal-scoring streak in recent weeks. However, while the Spaniard contributed an assist in his team’s win over Coventry on Saturday, his lack of form likely draw interest away from him during the current transfer window. According to sources in Türkiye back in November, Süper Lig giants Galatasaray were contemplating on making a move for Sainz’s services, which may have alarmed the Canaries, given to the impressive success of Gabriel Sara’s summer move from Carrow Road to the Istanbul side.

Meanwhile, Radio Popular Bilbao reported in November that high-flying La Liga trio Atlético Madrid, Athletic Club, and Villareal were all keeping an eye on the Canary hotshot. However, such European footballing titans are unlikely to be impressed by Sainz’s record of eight consecutive Championship games without a goal. In the long run, this will benefit the Canaries, as they will most likely keep the Spaniard on their roster for the season’s crucial final stretch.

Sainz could catch transfer attention again soon

Sainz isn’t the buzz of the Championship right now, but he drew a lot of attention in the autumn when he scored a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Derby County in September, followed by another three goals in a thrashing of Plymouth Argyle in November. However, the former Giresunspor player has the opportunity to attract attention once more, as Hoff Thorup’s side faces three difficult tests in the coming weeks. First, the Canaries face Premier League Brighton at Carrow Road in the FA Cup on Saturday, and if Sainz can lead his club to an upset against a top-flight team, he will impress possible transfer suitors.

Followings that, the Norfolk club will play two of the Championship’s current top three in consecutive away games, first visiting Sheffield United on January 18th and then another Yorkshire trip to Leeds United on January 22nd. If Sainz plays well in both games, against two of the hardest opponents in the second tier, he could once again wow Atlético Madrid. But the Carrow Road club will hope that his current goal drought has done enough to deter any transfer offers, while also hoping to see him return to his best.

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