Villa 'set sights on Lambert'

Aston Villa are to step up their efforts to make Norwich boss Paul Lambert their new manager, Press Association Sport understands.

Villa are finally set to make an official approach for Lambert as they look to find a successor to the sacked Alex McLeish, though should reports which emerged on Wednesday night that he has quit Carrow Road prove accurate, the waters may be muddied.

Lambert has guided the Canaries to two successive promotions and established them in the Barclays Premier League last season, but it is understood Norwich are preparing to rebuff any such an approach and fight hard to keep the Scot, who has been operating on a rolling contract at Carrow Road.

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