In the event that the Canaries reach an agreement to sell Sargent, they might be persuaded to bring Rafa Mujica, a former striker for Leeds United, to Carrow Road during the summer transfer window.
The Spanish player, who attended Barcelona’s La Masia program, struggled to make it into Catalonia’s first squad but did play and score against Leicester City in a preseason friendly in 2016. In 2019, he would suffer with a hamstring injury and move from Nou Camp to Elland Road.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/21819838/1154967706.jpg.jpg)
Mujica would play for Marcelo Bielsa’s club in a preseason friendly against York City, but he would initially be a member of Carlos Corberan’s under-23 team. But he would not have any effect with the Yorkshire club.
Before signing a long-term contract with Los Amarillos, he took out more loans with Extremadura, Villarreall, Oviedo, and Las Palmas, all in his native country. After just one season with his home team, he signed a two-year contract with Primeira Liga team Arouca, where he appears to have found his goal-scoring form again.
Mujica scored 14 goals in all competitions during his first season in Portugal, but he has since surpassed that total this season.
In the league and cup, the Spaniard has scored 22 goals and given four assists, including goals against Sporting CP, FC Porto, and SC Braga. In Arouca’s most recent league victory over Boavista, he also scored, his third goal in as many games.
According to FbRef, when comparing Sargent’s stats from this season to those of Mujica, the Canaries should consider him as their most similar striking option for the summer.
Both players have comparable heights and ages, and their goals are scored in very similar ways based on their style of play. They both take part in the build-up of attacks and convert opportunities from inside the area.
Along with Mujica, FbRef’s studies rank Dejan Joveljic of the LA Galaxy and Marcos Leonardo of Benfica as the players that most resemble Sargent.
However, after looking at the data more closely and realizing that the former Leeds striker has played in England before—albeit at the youth level—it might be something the Canaries consider if the American international decides to leave the team.
Sydney van Hooijdonk, a striker for Bologna who hasn’t scored since leaving the Serie A team, is a 24-year-old player whose purchase option is up for grabs. The Canaries will need to give this decision careful thought.
Wagner is hoping that Sargent can lead his team to a Premier League return, but if the Canaries fail to qualify for the top flight, Sargent might very well play in the league the following season. Wagner will insist that all attention be focused on the field until the end of the season.
