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ALEX Neil is backing his Norwich City team to ‘take the initiative’ in this weekend’s East Anglian derby against Ipswich Town at Carrow Road.

The Canaries face their fiercest rivals on Sunday (2.05pm) with both sides striving for promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.

Following Tuesday’s comeback victory at Blackburn Rovers, City will head into the game looking to extend their impressive winning run to six – and Neil says that’s exactly the target.

“We want to go and try to win the game, that’s always going to be the approach,” he told Norwich City TV in an exclusive pre-match interview.

“We’re the home team and we’ll go and try to take the game to them. We’ll be aggressive, we’ll be up and in their faces and hopefully we’ll go and take the initiative and implement our style of play on the game.

“For the fans it’s about bragging rights and local pride, but for me it’s another opportunity for us to go above another team and hopefully close that gap (to the promotion places).”

City’s boss says he’s well-versed in the importance of derby meetings but insists he’s looking ahead to the occasion, especially given the extra relevance of the match in the context of the two clubs’ seasons.

“It’s the biggest local derby in quite a while because of the significance of the game and the fact that if we win, we can go above them,” he added.

“I’m sure they’ll be approaching it in the same manner, so we’ve got to make sure we’re right up for it, and we’ll be fully prepared for the match.

“I was brought up in Glasgow, where derbies are of course a big thing. I’m fully aware of what a derby means and we’ll be ready to go, and I’m really looking forward to it.

While Neil is of the opinion that the final result will take precedent come Sunday evening, he believes the best way to go about making certain it’s in City’s favour is to ensure a continuation of the recent performance levels that have pushed them on to two wins on the road already this week.

“If it’s a derby and you’re a fan, you don’t want to know how well your team played, you want to know whether you won or not,” he said.

“That’s the most important thing - however, I’m a big believer in that if your performances are good enough over the course of the game, then you’ll get what you deserve.

“First and foremost as a group, we’ve got to make sure that we play well and try and dominate the match. If we can do that, we give ourselves the best opportunity of winning the game.”

Gary Hooper (illness) was absent at Ewood Park, and on his chances of featuring Neil added: “He should be fine; he should be back in the squad. He’ll do a bit of training and we’ll see how he gets on between now and Sunday.”

Atalanta winger James Troisi is on a list of Norwich targets to cover the long-term loss of Elliott Bennett.

Bennett has undergone surgery to mend damaged knee ligaments and is expected to be out for several months.

And Norwich manager Chris Hughton has enquired about Troisi, an Australia international who was once on Newcastle's books.

"I think the link is maybe there because of the Newcastle connection," said Hughton.

"What you tend to find is that in the process of doing the work we do behind the scenes to identify players there will always be lots of names that are thrown in and as soon as you ask questions about somebody that can find its way into the public.

"He is just one of numerous names that we have asked about. That is where we are on that one.

"We have lost Elliott for a good period and it is something we would like to do in that area before the window closes. If we do, fine, if not, then I wouldn't be too concerned but what we will do is keep going right through until the window closes."

Hughton is also chasing other, unnamed targets and - speaking at a press conference ahead of the weekend game against Southampton - said he expects to be in the market for new players right up until Monday's deadline.

One of City's summer signings, Gary Hooper, is yet to appear for the club after suffering a shin injury in pre-season.

The striker will resume light training this week and is expected to be available after September's international break.

Tuesday 27th August Norwich City vs Bury KO 19:45

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City can confirm Dutch international midfielder Leroy Fer has joined from FC Twente on a 4-year deal, subject to international clearance

Norwich City have signed Blackburn Rovers left-back Martin Olsson, subject to paperwork, and keeper Carlo Nash.

Sweden international Olsson, 25, moves to Carrow Road on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Nash, 39, has joined on a free transfer after being released by Stoke, signing a one-year contract.

"At this time it's about improving the squad that we have and Martin certainly does that," Norwich manager Chris Hughton said.

Olsson has been with Blackburn since January 2006, making 143 appearances.

He has signed following the arrival of Nathan Redmond from Birmingham, Javier Garrido from Lazio and Ricky van Wolfswinkel from Sporting Lisbon.

Norwich's summer signings

Javier Garrido: Left-back, undisclosed fee from Lazio.

Nathan Redmond: Winger, £3.2m from Birmingham.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel: Striker from Sporting Lisbon for £8.5m.

Martin Olsson: Left-back from Blackburn for an undisclosed fee.

Carlo Nash: Goalkeeper on a free transfer.

Norwich tweeted: "Full-back Martin Olsson set to join City from Blackburn on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, subject to paperwork."

Hughton added: "We're delighted with the addition of Martin. He's been playing in England for seven years and is well acclimatised to the Premier League.

"He can also play anywhere on the left-hand side so he brings us good flexibility in that sense. Plus, at 25, he's at an age where he has some experience and also some time to improve."

Olsson joined Blackburn Rovers' academy in 2006 from Hogaborgs BK in his native Sweden and has played 15 times for his country at senior level, scoring four goals.

The Canaries are Nash's 11th club in a career spanning more than 20 years and including spells with Manchester City, Everton and Stoke.

His arrival gives Norwich a new goalkeeping option with Jed Steer, 20, leaving to join Aston Villa and Declan Rudd, 22, moving to League One side Preston on a season-long loan.

Hughton said: "It is now important to us to bring in a keeper of great experience and a player that is used to living life in the Premier League.

"The move also allows us to send Declan Rudd out on an extremely valuable season-long loan to Preston where he can get some first-team football under his belt."

Wigan have signed striker Grant Holt from Norwich on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

Holt, 32, joined the Canaries from Shrewsbury in 2009 and scored eight goals in 38 appearances last season.

He becomes Owen Coyle's seventh summer signing as the new Wigan boss prepares for the Championship season.

"This is a fantastic piece of business for us at a really good price. Grant is a proven goalscorer at every level," Coyle said.

Hot streak

Holt was voted Norwich's Player of the Year in 2010, 2011 and 2012

"He will definitely bring something new to the table that we were missing in the squad."

The Latics signed former West Bromwich Albion and Celtic striker Marc-Antoine Fortune on Friday.

Fortune's former West Brom team-mate, goalkeeper Scott Carson, completed his move from Bursaspor to the FA Cup winners on Thursday.

James Perch, Chris McCann, Stephen Crainey and Thomas Rogne have also recently agreed moves to the DW Stadium.

But Arouna Kone has left Wigan, signing a three-year deal with Everton after they met a £6m release clause in his contract.

Norwich were in League One when Holt signed from Shrewsbury and he was a key member of the squad as the Canaries secured back-to-back promotions.

Holt, who was born in Carlisle, has also played for Sheffield Wednesday, Rochdale, Nottingham Forest and Blackpool and scored 68 goals in 154 league appearances for Norwich.

He handed in a transfer request last summer but eventually signed a new three-year contract with the club.

Norwich City boss Chris Hughton confirmed on Monday lunchtime he is interested in bringing England Under-21 starlet Nathan Redmond to Carrow Road this summer - but the Canaries’ boss stopped short of confirming a deal had been sealed for the Birmingham wide player.

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Reports in the Midlands claim City have beaten off interest from Swansea and a clutch of other Premier League rivals to sign the 19-year-old in a deal that could rise to £3.2m.

Redmond is reportedly heading to Norfolk to undergo a medical after agreeing personal terms. St Andrews’ chief Lee Clark revealed last week the Blues had accepted two bids from unamed clubs.

“He is a player we are very, very interested in. I can say that much,” said Hughton. “I suppose the association is a natural one with him because he was a player I had at Birmingham but certainly right now we are not able to say anything until there is something that is sure and confirmed but, yes, he is a player we have an interest in.”

Hughton also sought to dampen down rising expectations that Swedish international Ola Toivonen could join Redmond imminently in Norfolk. The attacking midfielder has been given an ultimatum by his Dutch club PSV Eindhoven to decide his future this week after City had a reported £4.8m bid accepted last month.

“He is a player we have shown interest in. But I have to say he is one of a few,” he said. “Some of the reports that you will hear will have a little bit of substance to them, some are far off the mark but you learn in this game that until there is a done deal not to take anything for granted. But in general terms we are working very hard. In an ideal world you would like to do your business as soon as possible. The problem is it is getting more and more difficult for that to happen.”

Hughton also made his first public comments on last week’s reports Chelsea have targeted England international John Ruddy with a £5m offer rejected by the Canaries.

“John is no different to any player we have here. Any interest in any of our players is just a mark and a testament to how well those individuals have done,” he said. “We start back training on Thursday. John is very much part of our plans and will be here. Then we go away to Austria next week and of course John is very much part of that. Any interest shown in any of our players is just a mark of how well they have done. We see very much John’s future here and we look forward to him being here.”

Ricky van Wolfswinkel has vowed to fire Norwich to Premier League success after being officially unveiled at Carrow Road.

Van Wolfswinkel completed his move from Sporting Lisbon on Monday when an £8.5m deal agreed in March was finally rubber-stamped on the first day of the transfer window.

The Holland striker scored 15 times for the Portuguese side last season and reckons he can boost the attacking threat of a side that managed just 41 goals in 38 league games.

"I'm glad to be here and can't wait to get started," Van Wolfswinkel told reporters. "This is the perfect move for me.

"All the Dutch players that have played in the Premier League told me that this was the league to be in."

Ricky van Wolfswinkel

"I had two great years at Sporting and I think I did a really good job there and did those fans proud.

"All the Dutch players that have played in the Premier League told me that this was the league to be in.

"Of course I can (score goals). There is nothing more important for me."

Manager Chris Hughton backed his new striker to make a smooth transition to English football.

"I'm confident he can keep up his scoring record," Hughton said. "RVW is used to scoring goals andm sure he can adapt to the Premier League.

"It's a different game now and a lot of overseas players have come to the league recently and adapted very well.

"We're really looking forward to seeing him out there. Ricky wants to do well and he recognises his responsibility."

Wigan FC ready to swoop for Grant Holt for  4 million The Sun claims 

Norwich City have agreed a deal to sign Ola Toivonen from PSV Eindhoven, according to the Dutch club.

The Swedish striker has been linked with a possible move to Carrow Road since the end of last season.

The 26-year-old had one year left on his PSV contract, but had previously stated their asking price of £4million was too high.

However, PSV director Marcel Brands claims that with the two clubs having agreed a deal, matters are now in the Swedish player's hands.

"We never comment on any sums, but we have reached an agreement with Norwich for Ola," Brands told Swedish newspaper SportBladet.

"Now it's entirely up to him to decide whether he wants to move.

"We start training on Monday, if there is no deal with Norwich then I expect to him to be here."