• Premier League

Frustrated Lambert desperate for new signings

Paul Lambert may look towards Europe for Norwich signings © PA Photos

Enlarge

Norwich manager Paul Lambert is frustrated he cannot attract players in the transfer window because the club cannot compete with the wages paid by the rest of the Premier League.

Lambert has handed a list of targets to the club but so far has drawn a blank in his attempts to persuade anyone to go to Carrow Road. And that is despite a stirring first half of the season which has seen Norwich in the top half of the table with a healthy 25 points and playing free-flowing football.

Lambert said: "We're not making inroads. It's frustrating. We can't do the wages, that is a problem. The lads need a hand but you have to bring them (reinforcements) in to play. It's no good bringing people in here that I think are not going to play or be a squad player or just make up the numbers.

"At the minute we are not making any headway. People have the wrong perception of the money Norwich have got to spend. You hear funds are available all the time, but when you look at the prices we can't compete with that. We are nowhere near. It's hard.

"The club two years ago was flat on its face. We have a structure here which might stabilise it, but you still have to get players in you think could help. You'd love to be linked with players of £10 million and £12 million and pay their wages but we're not and that's the reality of it.

"Because we are in the Premier League people assume we are going to do what QPR do. You can't do it. The money they are talking about, we can't compete with it.

"The quickness of the thing that has transpired [at Norwich] makes it really tough. There was a seven-year plan and all of a sudden it is blown out of the water in two.

"The European route might be one the club goes down [in the future] but at the minute we have to set things in place. You have to walk before you can run. I don't think Norwich will feel the benefit of the Premier League until they are two or three years in it because of the finances.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.