Lambert: Another move possible before deadline

Paul Lambert is still waiting for someone - anyone - to call him about taking on Aston Villa's remaining unwanted players. Stephen Ireland, Barry Bannan, and Shay Given have all been told they won't be playing for the club this year, but no one else seems to want them either. The lack of action on the remaining three from the group that Lambert had frozen out could be holding the gaffer back from making another move before the summer transfer window closes on Monday.

Lambert has said that there likely won't "be any major movement," but elaborated that "if something came up I thought was right and financially it was right we'd look at it." Given the fact that the club has made a number of moves to bring players in this summer - while having very few leaving - I can't imagine we're in for too much action in the next four or so days. Perhaps if someone would take on the wages of any of the three aforementioned players, things would be different, but I don't see that happening.

In many ways, it's a little sad. Ireland, Bannan, and Given all have something left to offer football, but thanks to crazy contracts that they've signed, no one will touch them. What they're worth is less than they're getting paid. And that's really a shame. Given gave us one pretty decent season, Bannan had flashes of brilliance, and Ireland was... not Robert Pires? We'll keep an eye out, but don't expect to hear much on the remaining three. I think sending Darren Bent, Nathan Delfouneso, and Enda Stevens out on loans was about the best the club could hope for.

More from 7500 To Holte:

• Villa get tough 3rd round draw in League Cup
• Reaction to Villa's win over Rotherham
• Villa send Stevens out on emergency loan
• Examining the first three matches of the season