Aston Villa eyeing winter window swoop for Wolves star Bakary Sako

Aston Villa, 10/3 chances for Premier League relegation with Coral, are set to offer £2m to West Midlands neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers for winger Bakary Sako in January, according to the tabloid rumour mill.

Paul Lambert’s side have failed to score in five Premier League matches since beating Liverpool 1-0 on September 13th. Villa owner Randy Lerner, who is looking to sell the club, rewarded his manager with a new deal following fine early season form, but that has since dripped dramatically.

Resurgent Wolves, meanwhile, are making a real fist of earning back-to-back promotions having endured consecutive relegations prior to that. They are joint-top of the Championship along with Derby County and Watford, and 5/2 to go up this season.

Mali wideman Sako, 26, has been a consistent performer for Wanderers in both good times and bad since signing for a reported £2m from Ligue 1 outfit St-Etienne in the summer of 2012. He has netted on 28 occasions, supplying 27 assists in 90 league outings in Wolverhampton.

Although he missed Wolves’ last outing at Leeds United through injury, Sako has scored four in as many previous appearances and is their leading Championship marksman with seven this term. Lambert indicated he was not overly concerned by the goal shortage at Villa, however, following the recent defeat at fellow strugglers QPR.

“I know we’ll be alright in that department because when [Christian] Benteke comes up to speed, and with Gabriel Agbonlahor, Andreas Weimann, Charles N’Zogbia and Darren Bent, we’ve guys with goals in them,” said Lambert. However, the Villa boss is thought to be keen to recruit Sako, out of contract next summer, and add to that attacking roster in the winter window.

Lambert’s interest in the Wanderers winger is welcome news to West Midlands rivals Birmingham City, who sit second bottom of the Championship and face a derby against Wolves on November 1st, as the lure of Premier League football may unsettle him. Villa are 11/2 chances to revive their fortunes and finish in the top 10.