Tuesday 25 August 2015 14:20, UK
Paul Lambert admits he is surprised at former club Aston Villa's change in transfer policy, which has seen them spend big money over the summer.
The Scot was sacked as Villa boss in February as the club battled against relegation from the Premier League, with Tim Sherwood taking over.
Chairman Randy Lerner had previously been reluctant to spend money in the transfer market but the club have made a number of signings during the window.
The sales of Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph brought in around £40m but Villa moved quickly to re-invest that money, spending big on the likes of Jordan Amavi, Jordan Ayew, Idrissa Gueye and Jordan Veretout, among others.
Asked if it irked him that his old club have now decided to spend cash, Lambert told Sky Sports News HQ: "It does a little bit. It makes me a laugh a little bit in the change in the policy but that's the way it is and good luck to Tim and Aston Villa in the future, whatever they want to do.
"Everybody has moved on and they have spent an awful lot of money.
"Tim will be upbeat going into the season with the squad that he's got and hopefully they can go and do it. It has probably been stop-start for them but we'll see how it goes."
The former Norwich boss said he is now ready to get back into management after some time away from the dugout.
He has spent that time touring clubs in Europe and England, watching games and training, and said he would be open to following the likes of David Moyes abroad.
Lambert, who won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund in 1997, said his German still comes back to him when he speaks to friends there and recently spent some time watching Bundesliga new boys Ingolstadt training.
However, Lambert was keen to stress that his next club, and the people around it, had to be right for him.
He said: "I want to get back into it. I've had my six months and I have really enjoyed it, I've been to some great places but now I'm ready to go back in.
"If I can get back in, then one, somebody has got to want you and two, it has to be right for myself.
"I'm open to most things, to go abroad or in England. I played abroad so I know what it is like, what it takes, the mentality of it, a different way of life. So that doesn't faze me but it has got to be right.
"Anywhere if I think it is a good club and there are good people to work for. It is important to work for good people - that is important for me. But I'm open to most things."
