Lambert not thinking about Holt bid

New Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has already identified several new faces he would like to bring to Villa Park, but is adamant that Norwich striker Grant Holt is not one of them.

Striker Holt was an integral part of Lambert's hugely successful three-year spell at Carrow Road, but the 31-year-old has been left disappointed by the club's refusal to offer him a new three-year contract and had a transfer request turned down last month.

But, while Lambert was fulsome in his praise for the centre-forward, he insisted he has not thought about signing Holt, and said: "I haven't even thought about that at all. Grant Holt was brilliant for me. In the three years I was there (at Norwich) he was a huge part of what happened at the club. He is a terrific guy and I have a lot of time for him."

He went on: "He was brilliant for me as a footballer and a captain but things move on and I need to know about Aston Villa Football Club before I do anything else.

"I will look at things here first and foremost. We will try to bring some guys in but I swear to God I haven't thought about that.

"I am really excited to be here but I haven't thought about anything like that."