No panic buying at Villa

Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner is prepared to loosen the purse strings during the January transfer window - but there will be no panic buying, Press Association Sport understands.

Lerner has splashed out more than £200 million in his six years in charge and last summer manager Paul Lambert spent nearly £23 million in revamping the squad.

The days of Villa spending a club-record £24 million for striker Darren Bent are no longer on the agenda for Lerner. But he recognises Villa's current battle against relegation from the Barclays Premier League means funds have to be made available to manager Paul Lambert during the transfer window.

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