Paul Lambert is forced to look again

Villa boss Paul Lambert was today braced for a frantic day of transfer deadline activity before the window slams shut later tonight.

The Scot has been left frustrated in his search for a proven striker after negotiations with Genk over the sale of Belgium international Christian Benteke hit an impasse.

Genk are understood to have rejected Villa's latest offer of around £7m and while the deal could still be resurrected, it would require a significant change of attitude from the Belgian club who want closer to £15m.

Lambert will now sound out other targets in a bid to strengthen his goalscoring options and could also step up his interest in Charlton midfielder Dale Stephens who has been strongly linked with a £2.5m switch to Villa.

Club officials are also hopeful they can move on out-of-favour full-backs Alan Hutton and Stephen Warnock who have both been told they have no future at the club.

Scotland right-back Hutton has been linked with Stoke City although they have cooled their interest recently and the Potters seem more likely to make an offer for Villa centre-back Richard Dunne.

Sunderland is the most likely destination for left-back Warnock, but any deal will depend on whether the Black Cats agree the sale of Kieran Richardson to Fulham.

Meanwhile, Stephen Ireland claimed he can provide the ammunition for Villa striker Darren Bent who has struggled with a lack of service in the opening two Premier League games.

"I want to be the player to take risks, he said. "It's my job to supply it and I know he'll finish if I give him a chance. It's important because we rely on him a lot."