Norwich City’s Alex Neil playing a game of patience in the transfer market
Norwich City boss Alex Neil is looking to move through the gears in pre-season. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Alex Neil admits Norwich's transfer strategy has become a game of patience.
Graham Dorrans, who made his loan move permanent, and free agent Youssouf Mulumbu have been the only confirmed additions to Neil's promotion-winning squad.
City have made a series of bids for Hull wing-back Robbie Brady with Neil opting not to follow up a proposed deal for Celta Vigo striker Joaquin Larrivey after meeting the player and his representative.
Neil, though, remains confident he will be able to assemble the required personnel for the challenges ahead before the summer transfer window closes on September 1.
'The only sort of disappointing thing from our point of view is the targets we have tried to attract, we have not managed to get in yet, because you want to try to incorporate them into the group,' he said. 'To make sure everyone is functioning how they can and that we are all in it together, but when you have not signed these players, that can't happen.
'It (the summer transfer window) has certainly been difficult for us. It is a newish scenario for me in terms of trying to get so many players in at a different level.
'We have tried our very best, and have been doing a lot of work behind the scenes.'
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Neil wants intense competition for places throughout his squad.
'The frustrating part is more the fact of having to wait on others, because we have done what we can do: we have made offers, we have spoken to teams, to players and clubs, it is just about trying to get things over the line,' he told Norwich's Youtube channel on Tuesday. 'Parameters change quite often, which you would hope would not be the case, but we just need to deal with it.
'We will persevere, we will not be deterred and will continue to do what we have to do to get our (new) players in.
'To give ourselves a chance, we have to be competitive in terms of positions, so there has to be at least two players for every position to get the best out of each other, and that is something I am trying to make sure we address.'
