Nottingham Forest are looking to sign Gary Gardner from Aston Villa this summer, as Mark Warburton continues to add depth to his squad ahead of the 2017/18 campaign, reports the Nottingham Post.

Gardner looks set to leave Villa Park this summer, after finding him out-of-favour with Steve Bruce and not in Villa’s plans heading into the 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship campaign.

Gardner has been with Villa throughout his entire professional career, although the midfielder has spent time away from Villa Park on-loan on five different occasions, including two separate spells with Forest.

Last season in the Championship, Gardner made 27 appearances across all competitions as Villa stumbled to a 13^th placed finish, and the 25-year-old does not feature in Bruce’s reshape at Villa Park.

That has led to Forest showing an interest in the midfielder, with Warburton keen for Gardner to return to the City Ground on a permanent basis, for his third spell at the club.

Gardner spent the second-half of the 2014/15 season with Forest, where he made 18 appearances and helped himself to four goals.

The midfielder then returned to the City Ground In January 2016, making 22 appearances during the second-half of the season and adding two goals to his Forest tally.

The 25-year-old’s other loan spells away from Villa came with Coventry City, Brighton and Hove Albion and Sheffield Wednesday.

The Verdict

Gardner looks set to become one of the many victims of Steve Bruce’s overhaul at Villa Park this summer. However, Gardner could fall on his feet should he finalise a move to Forest and end up working under Warburton.

Warburton led Forest to safety in the Championship last season, but that is unlikely to be the case next year, with the Reds expected to be challenging further up the table.

The addition of Gardner could prove to be a good piece of business from Forest, as the player knows the club and has a point to prove after his snub from Bruce and Aston Villa.

Forest fans… Let us know your thoughts!