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Nottingham Forest are working to bring Alan Hutton back to the City Ground – but this time on a permanent basis.

The Reds hope to exploit Aston Villa’s financial crisis by landing the 33-year-old on a free transfer.

Forest are understood to be willing to offer the right back – who can also operate on the left side – a two-year contract in order to lure him away from the West Midlands club, who need to cut costs massively, following their failure to win promotion to the Premier League.

Former Scotland international Hutton, who won 50 caps for his country, is out of contract at Villa Park and boss Steve Bruce is keen to keep the player, who has been an important figure in his side.

(Image: Getty)

Villa will offer Hutton a contract and the player is understood to be willing to take a pay cut to remain with them, but Forest are hopeful of luring him across the Midlands for a second spell at the City Ground, and are believed to have held positive discussions with his representatives already.

Hutton previously joined Forest on loan, playing seven games for the Reds in late 2012, during a time when he was out of favour at Villa.

But he has started 154 games for Villa during seven years with the club, while making 14 sub appearances, scoring one goal, and has more recently been firmly back in the fold under Bruce.

Hutton started the play-off final defeat at the hands of Fulham last month, but Forest are now keen to add him to their squad, to bolster their own promotion ambitions, as Villa look to restructure amid a financial crisis.

Long serving Forest right back Eric Lichaj is poised to join Hull City, which would create room in the squad for Hutton’s arrival.

Lichaj’s move to the Tigers is expected to be confirmed by the end of the week, once the two clubs have completed final negotiations over a fee for the American international, with Forest understood to want something in the region of £400k for the 29-year-old, who has one year left to run on his Reds contract.

Former Burnley man Tendayi Darikwa will offer competition and cover for Hutton, if Forest can successfully lure him to the City Ground.