Winter window manifesto for Norwich City campaign revival
Lee Gormley | January 1, 2016
Canaries seek season rejuvenation
Norwich City currently sit just three points adrift of the relegation zone after a hapless run of results and are in danger of struggling further if they don’t kick-off the New Year more encouragingly.
The January transfer window could prove decisive for Alex Neil’s Canaries if they are to remain in the top-flight and avoiding an immediate return to the Championship, with the club in need of reinforcements.
Neil rallies troops
Neil’s Canaries embark on a 2016 mission to try and retain their Premier League status after picking up just six points from nine games during the festive period at the end of 2015, having edged narrowly away from the drop zone.
The Norwich boss will surely look to strengthen his ranks in this winter window, with the club 3/1 with Coral to face the drop, and he recently rallied his side for the remainder of this current campaign.
“We are 15th, we have done okay but we can do better,” said Neil. “The aim now is to try and get to the 40-point mark as quickly as possible and then if you do that you can re-assess your goals.
“We are coming to terms and learning that we can’t dominate every game, but we can hang in there and pose a threat going forward.
“The first 10 or 11 games of the season we dominated a lot of the possession and controlled matches, but in recent weeks we have accepted that is not always going to be the case and we have adapted.”
Who will arrive at Carrow Road?
Both Cameron Jerome and Republic of Ireland international playmaker Wes Hoolahan began the domestic campaign in flying form, but tailed off slightly towards the back end of 2015, meaning fresh faces are much-needed.
A quick resolve could be the acquisition of Everton and Scotland attacking midfielder Steven Naismith, with the Toffees forward reportedly close to agreeing a switch to Carrow Road from the blue half of Merseyside.
The Scot would provide Norwich with an extra attacking danger for the remainder of this term, with a £8m move close to completion, and he could forge a Celtic-forward partnership with Hoolahan and Robbie Brady behind Jerome.
Neil wants acquisitions and to retain stars
Neil has refused to comment on when Naismith will finally complete his move, but the Canaries are also heavily linked with Dinamo Zagreb defender Pinto and he was adamant that no current players will be departing either.
“It is always difficult because until things are signed and across the line you can think you are as close as you like but until the paper is signed and the player is in the building then nothing has been made complete,” stated Neil.
“We have a strong club at the moment and we want to try and add to it.”
The capturing of both Naismith and Pinto would bring a great deal of quality to the attacking and defensive ranks, with Norwich in need of a rejuvenation this term to remain in the top tier (1/5 to do so).
The Canaries have also expressed an interest in Inter Milan centre back Andrea Ranocchia, with the towering San Siro defender rated at £7m by the Nerazzurri. Such a deal would represent a huge coup for Norwich, as well as potentially acquiring Pinto too, ahead of a challenging season second-half.
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