Roberto Di Matteo has said that he expects there to be departures from Villa before the season gets underway.
Since being appointed as Villa manager at the beginning of June, Di Matteo has wasted no time in strengthening his squad. Tommy Elphick was signed from Bournemouth, whilst Pierluigi Gollini joined from Hellas Verona with Aaron Tshibola’s arrival from Reading confirmed yesterday.
However in an interview with Villa’s website, Di Matteo has hinted that his focus is set to turn to who will be leaving Villa this summer, as he looks to cut down the number of players currently in his squad.
From day one, I was looking to strengthen the spine of the team, make it as strong as possible.
I am very pleased with the additions so far. We’ve been very quick to get the right signings in and I have been very pleased about that.
Right now, we have a big squad. I have focused a lot of my time on training but also in signing the right players.
Probably over the next two or three weeks I need to look at getting some players out as well.
I want to trim the squad. I don’t want as big a squad as we have now. My focus will be on that.
However, the former Chelsea manager insisted that the players still have the chance to impress him, with Villa still having a number of pre-season fixtures left before the season get’s underway.
I haven’t made my final decision on what the squad will be like. I know in numbers how many I would like but this time gives me the opportunity to look and assess all the players and make decisions.
We have only had one friendly and not even two weeks of training so I’d like to have a bit more time to make final decisions on which players I would like to keep.
Charles N’Zogbia and Kieran Richardson have already left the club this summer after their contracts expired, whilst academy graduate Callum Robinson joined Preston North End permanently after impressing during a loan spell there.
