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Aston Villa’s search for a striker continues – but the chance of a new arrival before Tuesday is unlikely.

Demba Ba is not on the radar despite rumours in the press and any forward in a similar price bracket is also out of the equation.

As the claret and blues’ domestic loan quota has already been used up, it’s unlikely there will be any further recruits from the Premier League or the Championship either, unless they are bargain buys.

Villa are looking at international loans, of which they have an unlimited amount, and are assessing other attacking options, but the transfer window could close on Monday without any further incomings.

Check out the list of players Villa fans would like their club to sign

“In the front area, we need competition and if we can do that we will do it,” said manager Paul Lambert . “The first and second year I was here, goalscoring was never a problem.

“It was keeping it out.

“We’ve rectified the defence now and if you had said to me about the goalscoring problems you would have never thought that.

“As for Demba Ba, absolutely, no. We could never do £9million or whatever the figure is likely to be for him? The money for him would be too much.”

Villa’s options up front have been thin in recent weeks and too much strain has been put on Christian Benteke.

The club simply haven’t got the competition to put him under threat, but Lambert now thinks that will change. With wingers Scott Sinclair and Carles Gil signing, it’s less likely that Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann will be used on the flank.

Therefore they will challenge Benteke for the lone striker role alongside Libor Kozak who has now returned to training.

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“There’s more competition with the new signings,” added Lambert. “Now Gabby and Andi, who are better as strikers, will challenge (Benteke). I’ve been playing them out wide but they are quick, smaller-type guys, whereas Christian is different. It gives me the option.

“Remember, I left Christian out against Southampton last year and played Libor. He scored that day.

“But if we could bring in another striker we would try if that was feasible.”