After weeks of talks and negotiations, there has been a breakthrough for the 24-year-old, with a £14.25m package being agreed by the two clubs. That figure includes add-ons with Norwich holding a sell-on clause in the agreement.

Sainz is now poised to travel to Portugal to finalise the deal, which is expected to be rubber-stamped in the coming days.

Napoli also submitted a bid for the winger earlier in the summer, but their interest has subsequently cooled. Athletic Bilbao never made club-to-club contact with the Canaries despite intense speculation over a return to his boyhood side.

City are interested in Metz winger Diallo as a potential wide replacement, but reports suggest the 21-year-old is in advanced negotiations with Championship rivals Watford alongside other interested parties.

The Senegalese international scored seven goals and provided four assists for Metz last season, mainly playing on the left flank, but has also featured on the right.

Watford reportedly have an agreement, said to be worth up to £4.3million – in place with the Ligue 2 club. Any move would require City to hijack that deal and would be the latest test of their recruitment department after the eyebrow-raising capture of Mathias Kvistgaarden from Brondby.

City also remain in talks over Silkeborg midfielder Pelle Mattsson as they continue to shape Liam Manning’s squad for the upcoming Championship campaign.

But that won’t include Sainz, who is set for Portugal and Europa League football after a fine goal-scoring campaign at Carrow Road.

City signed Sainz on a free transfer from Turkish side Giresunspor after the winger activated a relegation release clause into his contract. He will depart Norwich having made 82 appearances, scoring 27 times.

He finished runner up in the Golden Boot competition in the Championship last term to Leeds United’s Joel Piroe after a stunning goal-scoring run that saw him net 15 times before Christmas.

Wrexham, Middlesbrough and Derby County plotting moves for Blackburn Rovers star

Wrexham, Middlesbrough and Derby County are all interested in a move for Blackburn Rovers right-back Callum Brittain.

The trio are all ramping up preparations for the 2025/26 Championship campaign and are eyeing up a transfer for the 27-year-old defender.

Brittain has been a key player for the East Lancashire outfit since making the switch to Ewood Park from Barnsley in the summer of 2022.

Wrexham, Middlesbrough and Derby County interested in transfer for Callum Brittain

A number of players have exited Ewood Park in the early stages of the summer window and multiple others have been linked with a move away from Rovers.

According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph via X, Brittain could be the next operator to leave Blackburn, with Wrexham, Middlesbrough and Derby County all keen on a transfer.

The 27-year-old is in the last year of his deal with Valerien Ismael’s side and has previously been linked with the Rams earlier this window.

Rovers aren’t looking to sell the player, but given his precarious contract situation Brittain could still leave.

The full-back played 33 times for Blackburn next term and performed at a consistently high level, which has brought forward interest from the trio of Championship clubs.

Brittain began his career with MK Dons, running out over 120 times for the club before moving to Barnsley.

Callum Brittain has a wealth of options if he is to leave Blackburn Rovers

Ewood Park has become increasingly deserted during the early stages of this window, with Andreas Weimann, Danny Batth and Tyrhys Dolan all notable departures.

Football League World exclusively revealed that captain Lewis Travis is on Derby County’s wish list, the same destination that Weimann and Batth have chosen.

Therefore, Brittain could be tempted to reunite with his former boss John Eustace and ex-teammates at Pride Park.

Wrexham obviously possess one of the most exciting projects in the EFL and have the draw of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ambitious ownership that will no doubt compete towards the top of the Championship in years to come.

Middlesbrough are another club with Premier League ambitions and now have a manager who knows how to get promoted to the top-flight in Rob Edwards.

Whatever option appeals most to Brittain, he has three exciting projects to choose from which may be more tempting than remaining at Ewood Park.