No Villa bid for Steven Defour as Paul Lambert admits Wes Hoolahan pursuit is failing

Midfielder Defour had been linked with the claret and blues but Lambert will not be making a move.

The Belgium international's agent, Paul Stefani, had claimed the club were in the running for the 25-year-old.

But Lambert has dismissed the link despite Villa reportedly making an enquiry for the Porto ace.

"No, there's nothing in that. I've not seen that one," he said.

And the Scot is frustrated in his chase for Hoolahan with Norwich refusing to do business with Villa with tension still high after Lambert's move from Norfolk in 2012.

Asked if the move was dead Lambert said: "I don't know. As I said before, he's their player.

"There's no point talking about somebody else's player. You look at other things and other options and if you can do it you look to do it.

"There are a few No.10s I looked at, as I call them, and some we just can't do. There's other positions I'd like to strengthen. We're trying to bring in a couple.

"If we can do it, then great, but this window is so difficult to deal with. You just can't bring in people for the sake of it. It really is a tough window to do anything."

Jack Grealish is expected to return to Notts County on loan for the rest of the season after a successful spell at the Meadow Lane.

Grealish played in Villa's 3-1 FA Youth Cup defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday but will link up with Shaun Derry's side again on a youth loan.