Canaries boss Paul Lambert has admitted he was priced out of a transfer window move for Swindon winger Anthony McNamee. Lambert is eager to add an injection of pace into his Canaries squad, which he described as "much of a muchness".

Canaries boss Paul Lambert has admitted he was priced out of a transfer window move for Swindon winger Anthony McNamee.

Lambert is eager to add an injection of pace into his Canaries squad, which he described as "much of a muchness".

However, he says Swindon's asking price for the 26-year-old is over the top.

"Swindon wanted an absolute fortune, an absolute fortune, for a lad in his last year, which Real Madrid couldn't afford," said Lambert, who reportedly offered �200,000 last month. I thought he might have come in and done something but we just couldn't do it. It wasn't just �50,000 or something like that, it was an absolute arm and a leg. There was no way we could do that and that's where it lies at the minute.

"We need a bit of speed in the team because a lot of the lads are much of a muchness. I think he has talent, a bit of speed, a bit of pace. The first time I saw him was when I was at Wycombe and he was playing for Watford and they had Ashley Young, who's now at Aston Villa, on one side and McNamee on the other side and it was incredible, the two of them."

City midfielder Wes Hoolahan and central defender Gary Doherty have both been linked with moves away from Carrow Road, but Lambert insists no firm offers have come his way.

In the meantime, he is pressing on with plans to add to his squad.

"We're trying this minute to see if we can do certain things, but I just don't want to bring loan players in for the sake of bringing them in, I don't want to do that," he said "But we might just have to look at one or two to come in and give us a hand."

Lambert's search for extra pace is part of his masterplan to get City out of League One.

"You need legs, that's why I need some speed in the team and young, hungry lads who can give that to me," he said. "The current group of lads have given everything, but they are much of a muchness. They need help. If you can run and get about the pitch, with a bit of hunger and desire and you won't be far off."