Aston Villa 'make Rickie Lambert enquiry'

Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert has reportedly been earmarked by Paul Lambert as the man to solve Aston Villa's goal-scoring crisis.

The Reds are said to be reluctant to sell the England international, while the former Southampton man has himself admitted that he is keen to stay at Anfield and fight for his place.

According to the Daily Mail, that has not stopped out-of-form Villa joining West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace in checking Lambert's availability, although it is claimed that a move is unlikely to go through before tonight's deadline.

Villa, who have already boosted their squad with the additions of Carles Gil and Scott Sinclair, have gone more than 10 hours without a goal in the Premier League following yesterday's 5-0 drubbing at Arsenal, which left them hovering just three points above the drop zone.