Villa outcast told he can leave

Aston Villa outcast Gabriel Agbonlahor has been told by Roberto Di Matteo that he can leave the Midlands side on a free transfer this summer.

The Birmingham Mail report that the Villans boss has told Agbonlahor that he will not figure in his first-team plans this season and that he will be allowed to leave on a free transfer if he can find a move away from Villa Park.

The 29 year old has struggled to impress Villa bosses during pre-season and has often struggled in recent years. He has seen his reputation with the Villa faithful tumble as well from a derby day hero to someone who is booed.

He is Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer with 73 goals in 322 appearances, but with the striker being one of Villa’s highest earners and alongside the arrival of Ross McCormack and with the emergence of Rushian Hepburn-Murphy game time will be hard to come by.