Sporting Gijon boss Miguel Angel Ramirez believes that Norwich City target Jonathan Varane wants to remain at the Spanish club beyond this transfer window. 

The Canaries have been linked with the 22-year-old in the last week, and it's understood Varane has been identified as a target for the mid to long-term by sporting director Ben Knapper and City's recruitment team. 

Suggestions of a bid, however, are wide of the mark - with Norwich willing to show patience in their pursuit of the French youth international. 

Varane fits the profile of a potential City target and is a defensive midfielder, but wouldn't be an addition for the here and now.

A reported €6million release clause is not something the Canaries would entertain in their current financial situation, underlined in the last set of published accounts

The likelihood is a quiet end to the January window from an incoming perspective, barring any unexpected movement outwards, with Knapper believed to be unwilling to recruit players who don't align with the long-term strategy. 

Ramirez, speaking ahead of Sporting Gijon's clash against Racing Ferrol on Sunday, has called for patience around Varane and is confident he is in the best place to continue his development as he helps with their promotion push. 

"I had a conversation with Varane. I have examples, especially from Independiente del Valle, of players who debuted with me and felt who was prepared and who was not (Moisés Caicedo, Piero Hincapié and Willian Pacho).

"They are now in the Bundesliga or the Premier League. I sincerely believe that Jonathan is not ready yet, he is in his training process. He has had a trip too fast and fleeting," he told La Voz de Asturias. 

"He was brave to come to a third division club, he went up to the first team because of the circumstances and supported him competing well, but the level of the squad has risen. Now, the competition is high.

"Surely, you are having a harder time having your place than last year. The times he is entering he is doing well, he is participating and being important. I think he needs patience, work and minutes, since whatever he decides, he listens to me or not, is his decision.

"I think that at the moment, he is a Sporting player. He is calm and wants to stay here, and whatever happens later, I understand that it will be the decision of the club and Jonathan.

"I am calm with these last days of the market. I am working with the squad, thinking that there will be no changes . This is what the club has conveyed and, in theory, there will not be any further movement except for some surprise that we do not expect."