Johannes Hoff Thorup joked he is not looking forward to the January transfer window after Borja Sainz plundered another Championship hat-trick in Norwich City’s 6-1 demolition of Plymouth on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old is top of the league’s goal charts and has produced a staggering 16 goal contributions in 17 league appearances this season.

Sainz has already been touted with top tier Spanish clubs and Turkish heavyweights Galatasaray, although Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper revealed at the recent annual meeting discussions are on-going with his camp for a player out of contract at Carrow Road in 2026.

The Spaniard grabbed a first home matchball, with Shane Duffy, Anis Ben Slimane and Ante Crnac all on target against Wayne Rooney's woeful Plymouth.

“I'm not looking forward to January,” said Thorup. “We have to accept that, and we have to understand that of course, a third season away from the Premier League, it's a different one in terms of budget and financial situation.

"Also with the change of strategy here the next ones are also out there in the squad, but maybe on the bench, or maybe just a part of the squad, or playing some under 21 minutes at the moment, but those guys are the next ones, and we have to prepare that so there's a consistent flow in what we do here.

“Hopefully when he travels to a bigger destination than here, then another one is ready. Otherwise we haven't done our job good enough.

“He has (gone to another level) and that's a part of what we can expect to see with the way that we play. Because if you go back and watch his goals, then you can see that he ends up in more or less the same situation and position every time.

"For him then it is to take the right decision and also to show that individual quality where, again, like I've said a couple of times, that’s not my part. I can make sure that the collective structure is there, so we support him the best possible way, so we get him into these areas of the game and on the pitch, and then for him to show that class. But he's definitely taking steps.”

Thorup spoke to the media on Tuesday night at Carrow Road.