Aston Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo expects Idrissa Gana’s move to Everton to be completed imminently.

The Toffees have triggered the midfielder’s £7.1m release clause and he has been discussing terms with them this week. Gana’s clause expires at the end of the transfer window but only Everton have made an official bid.

Villa, relegated from the Premier League last season, want to keep him but Di Matteo is resigned to seeing the Senegal international leave after just one season at the club.

He said: “It’s public Everton have triggered his clause and he’s going to leave. There’s no news so far but the expectation is, once personal terms are agreed he’s going to go.

“There are other clubs interested, that’s right, but the only official bid so far has been from Everton.”

Gana joined Villa from Lille last summer and made 38 appearances, scoring once, as the club were relegated from the top flight last season.

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