Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has claimed that Fabian Delph is unlikely to leave the club in the January transfer window.

Delph's form over the past 12 months has seen him break into the England squad, and the midfielder has refused to commit to a new contract at Villa Park, with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.

Reports have suggested that Tottenham Hotspur are willing to pay £3m to sign the 25-year-old before he becomes a free agent, but Lambert is optimistic that he will still be a Villa player next month.

"Fabian has been great. Obviously him being suspended hasn't helped. Hopefully everything goes OK and he stays here. I wouldn't imagine him leaving in January that's for sure," the Scot told reporters.

Villa slipped to a 1-0 Premier League defeat to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.