Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has given up on his pursuit of Manchester City outcast Scott Sinclair.

The Villans are believed to have been in negotiations over the transfer of the 25-year-old winger throughout the January window.

Sinclair, who has started just two Premier League games since joining City from Swansea City in 2012, was thought to be keen on a fresh start in the Midlands, but Lambert has revealed that the move is now "dead".

"That's dead, that's not going to go anywhere," he told reporters. "As far as I am led to believe it's dead. We just couldn't really do it, it just fell through."

Sinclair's four substitute appearances for the Citizens this season have totalled 25 minutes of playing time.

The former Chelsea flyer, who spent last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion, has also been linked with Queens Park Rangers and Inter Milan.