Norwich City: How AI values Marcelino Nunez, Borja Sainz and Josh Sargent's transfer worth | OneFootball

FLW looks at how AI values these three Norwich stars

Norwich City have made an inconsistent start to the season under the guidance of Johannes Hoff Thorup.

However, the Canaries boss - who replaced David Wagner shortly after the club's 4-0 aggregate defeat to Leeds United in last season's Championship play-off semi-finals - still has a number of highly-gifted players at his disposal.

We've continued to see a number of those flourish early on in the 2024/25 campaign under the Danish boss, particularly in the form of Josh Sargent, Borja Sainz and Marcelino Nunez.

With that in mind, Football League World has looked at how Football Transfers' ETV (Estimated Transfer Value) model generates a worth for the aforementioned trio.

How the 'Estimated Transfer Value' model works

With estimated valuations often being subjective, Football Transfers uses the guidance of AI to forge an 'Estimated Transfer Value' alongside SciSports.

Each player within the 240,000 strong database then sees their ETV generated through a number of factors, such as age, position, current and future potential levels, experience over the courses of their club and international careers, as well as their current contract situation.

It is stated that "their model is built to best represent the intrinsic value of a player based on historic and futuristic on-pitch added value under free market circumstances."

Josh Sargent currently has a higher estimated transfer value than Borja Sainz and Marcelino Nunez

With all of that context in mind, it is the USMNT international, Sargent, who comes out on top in this particular comparison, with an estimated transfer value of between €6-10m, with Football Transfers' most recent update claiming his overall valuation figure is approximately €8m (£6.67m).

Sargent made the move to Carrow Road from Werder Bremen in the summer of 2021 for a reported fee of £8m.

And, despite finding the adjustment to life in the Premier League tough, Sargent has become one of Norwich's key performers since their relegation under Dean Smith, despite suffering a handful of injury setbacks, which included a recent update stating that Hoff Thorup would be without his talisman, who netted 16 goals in just 28 regular season games last term, for an eight-week period following a groin issue.

Despite what Football Transfers estimate, it is clear that the Carrow Road hierarchy value the 24-year-old significantly higher, with a valuation of $25m (£18.9m) reported after a $20m (£15.1m) fee was knocked back by the East Anglian outfit from MLS club, FC Cincinnati, was turned down in August.

Borja Sainz and Marcelino Nunez's respective estimated transfer values

Given the start of the season which Sainz has enjoyed - becoming one of the second tier's most prolific attackers - it should come as no surprise that the Spaniard's ETV had risen to a figure of approximately €5.5m (£4.58m) by November 1st.

As a result of such form, which has included a plethora of spectacular goals, it wouldn't come as much of a surprise to see Athletic Bilbao revive their interest in the upcoming transfer window, with Sainz previously said to be open to a move to the Basque Country.

However, Norwich will be in no rush to lose his services for a big fee in the meantime, with just under two years left on his current contract.

And, in reference to Nunez, who was acquired for a reported sum of €3.9m (£3.25m) from Universidad Catolica in August 2022, his own ETV is said to be the exact same figure, with his contract also expiring in June 2026 at this moment in time.

The Chilean has been a regular in the side ever since, and last season, accumulated two goals and three assists in 38 Championship appearances under Wagner.

And, despite Norwich's recent inconsistencies, Nunez is on course to better those numbers, having already found the net twice in his opening 10 appearances of the season.

It is clear that AI can give a rough idea of valuations when it comes to the trio, but given their overall importance to Hoff Thorup, you would expect that it would take much more significant offers to prize them away from Norfolk in the short-term.