Sky Sports: Norwich City have announced that Paul Lambert has offered his resignation amid reports linking him with the vacant managerial post at Aston Villa. The Canaries have not accepted Lambert's offer, while it is understood that his representatives are meeting with Villa Park officials on Thursday. Villa are in the market for a new boss after parting with Alex McLeish's services at the end of a forgettable 2011/12 campaign. They are believed to have identified Lambert, who has taken Norwich from League One to the Premier League during his time at Carrow Road, as the leading candidate to fill their coaching void. Lambert has made no secret of his desire to test himself at the highest possible level and he has now taken steps to free himself from his contract with the Canaries.

BBC Sport: Norwich manager Paul Lambert has offered his resignation amid interest from Aston Villa. But City are not accepting his offer whilst talks with Villa are ongoing. A statement said: "The club regrets to confirm that Paul Lambert has offered his resignation from his position as Norwich City manager. "We have fought hard to keep Paul at Norwich City and have not accepted his resignation whilst discussions with another club are taking place." Aston Villa are hunting a replacement for Alex McLeish, who departed the club on 14 May after just 11 months in charge having overseen a poor 2011-12 Premier League campaign.

Teamtalk: Paul Lambert has offered his Norwich resignation, but the Canaries hierarchy have rejected it as negotiations continue with Aston Villa. Norwich confirmed on Thursday afternoon that Lambert, who has been strongly linked with the vacant manager's post at Aston Villa, wanted to leave Carrow Road.

ESPN: Paul Lambert appears set to become the new Aston Villa manager after he tendered his resignation at Norwich, although it was rejected by the East Anglian club. Despite Norwich's attempts to keep their man, Villa owner Randy Lerner and the chief executive, Paul Faulkner, are expected to hold talks over compensation, with Lambert's appointment anticipated to be announced in the next few days.

TalkSPORT: Norwich have confirmed that Paul Lambert has offered his resignation to the club. The Canaries board have not accepted his resignation but the Scot is understood to be holding talks over the vacant Aston Villa post and they will not stand in his way if, as expected, he is offered the chance to succeed Alex McLeish. Lambert, 42, has overseen a remarkable transformation of Norwich since taking charge in August 2009, leading them to back to back promotions and a comfortable finish in the Premier League last season.

Sky Sports: Shay Given believes Paul Lambert would be 'a great appointment' for Aston Villa were he to be handed the club's managerial reins. It is understood that Lambert's representatives are meeting with Villa Park officials on Thursday to discuss their vacant post. Numerous names have been linked with the role in the wake of Alex McLeish's dismissal at the end of a forgettable 2011/12 campaign, but Lambert is considered to be the leading candidate. He is currently in charge of Norwich, a side he has guided to back-to-back promotions and cemented in the Premier League during his time at Carrow Road. The Scot has made no secret of his ambition and Villa hope they can convince him to take on the challenge of turning their fortunes around. Given would like to see Lambert at the helm by the time he returns from Euro 2012 duty with the Republic of Ireland, with the experienced keeper urging his domestic employers to make an appointment as quickly as possible.

Setanta Sports: Keeper Shay Given would welcome Paul Lambert's appointment as the new manager of Aston Villa amid speculation that he is in line for the job. The 36-year-old is currently away in Italy with the Republic of Ireland squad as they prepare for the Euro 2012 finals. Back at home, the Norwich boss has been heavily linked with the post vacated by Alex McLeish last month with Villa due to meet Lambert's representatives and Given admitted it could only be good news if the Scot does take over at Villa Park.

TalkSPORT: Shay Given believes Paul Lambert will be a fantastic Aston Villa manager and has urged the board to appoint the Scotsman quickly. Reports suggest the Villans are on the verge of naming Lambert as Alex McLeish's replacement, after the Norwich boss walked resigned his post at Carrow Road. And Villa Park favourite Given claims the 39-year-old could be the man to turn around fortunes in the Midlands.

Fox Sports: Paul Lambert has offered his resignation as Norwich manager but the club have revealed in a statement on Thursday afternoon that they have not accepted it. Norwich have confirmed Lambert, who has been strongly linked with the vacant manager's post at Aston Villa, wanted to leave.

Setanta Sports: Shay Given and John O'Shea have returned to training ahead of the Republic of Ireland's final Euro 2012 warm-up game against Hungary. Given suffered a knee injury in training last week and despite stressing the problem was not serious he was told to rest for a week following a visit to a London specialist.

*The extracts on this page are taken from various newspapers and media outlets. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Aston Villa.