RvW: I'll take Norwich up a level

RvW: I'll take Norwich up a level

Published Jun. 13, 2013 9:15 a.m. ET

Birmingham teenager Callum Reilly has signed a new two-year contract at St Andrew's.

The 19-year-old, a Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, made 19 first-team appearances for Lee Clark's side last season.

Reilly, raised in Birmingham, joined the Blues academy as a seven-year-old and made his first-team debut in the FA Cup win over Sheffield United in January 2012.

He scored his first senior goal at Huddersfield in January this year.

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The 24-year-old will officially complete an ?8.5million switch from Sporting Lisbon on July 1, after his return from international duty with Holland.

Van Wolfswinkel netted 15 goals last season, including a brace in his final appearance for Sporting.

Norwich struggled to find the net over the second half of last season - before eventually scoring four against West Brom and then three in the win at Manchester City to pull clear of the relegation zone and finish a creditable 11th.

Van Wolfswinkel feels his added firepower can make sure Chris Hughton's men, who went through an unbeaten 10-match run from the end of October, can start to look up the table with confidence.

"I am sure I can help take Norwich to that next level now," Van Wolfswinkel told the June edition of Canary Magazine. "There is already a great team there and I hope I can add to that.

"I will love working with the team and the coach and I see a very good future for us all - for me and for Norwich.

"The Premier League is always a place I have wanted to test myself. For me Norwich is the perfect club and the perfect place to be."

He added: "Like every coach wants when they bring in a striker, he (Hughton) wants goals. Simple.

"He knows my qualities and said to me, 'just use them and you will score goals which will be really important for the team'."

Hughton is expected to further strengthen the squad over the summer, when a decision is also expected to be made on whether veteran club captain Grant Holt will see out the remainder of his contract or move on.

With just 41 goals in 38 league games last season, it is no surprise Norwich are seeking more attacking additions.

Sweden forward Ola Toivonen has been linked with switch from PSV Eindhoven, as has England Under-21 winger Nathan Redmond from Hughton's former club Birmingham.

Nigerian left-back Elderson Echiejile is also reported to be on Norwich's watch list as they prepare for a pre-season tour to the west coast of the United States.

Yet Hughton is not planning a major overhaul.

"I don't think the summer has to be drastic," he said. "If you bring players in it is because you feel they will improve what you have got. Our aim is to continue to develop.

"We have to do things in a financially viable way

"We are in a good way at the moment and we have to make sure we stay that way by working within our budgets, within our means and being sensible about everything."

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