Villa eye Forest swoop

Paul Lambert is reportedly set to try and tempt Nottingham Forest's Chris Gunter to Aston Villa, after failing to sign him for Norwich.

The new Villa chief was heavily linked with a swoop for the highly-rated 22-year-old Wales international full-back during the January transfer window, when he was in charge at Carrow Road. However, Forest scuppered Lambert's hopes by refusing to sell Gunter for less than £4.5million and the player stayed put at the City Ground to help Steve Cotterill's men stave off relegation from the Championship. Lambert's move to Villa Park does not seem to have dampened his enthusiasm to sign Gunter, who Forest signed from Tottenham for £1.75 million in summer 2009. As the player will be entering the final year of a four-year contract, it is being reported that he will offer £2.5million to sign him. If Forest agree to offload Gunter this summer, Villa will face plenty of competition for his signature with several Premier League sides also thought to be very interested in him.