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Medical passed: Aston Villa finalise midfielder deal - report
By Will Butcher
Aston Villa midfielder Jordan Veretout is on the verge of joining French outfit Saint Etienne, according to a report.
French outlet RMC Sport revealed that Veretout has passed a medical at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard and is set to join the Ligue 1 club on loan.
It is said that he will join Saint Etienne at the same time as Newcastle midfielder Henri Saivet, who has also passed a medical at the French club.
Veretout signed for Villa from Nantes last summer for £7.5million but he was one of many Tim Sherwood signings who failed to live up to expectations.
Veretout made 29 appearances in all competitions last season, and will look to rediscover his form at Les Verts with four years remaining on his Villa Park contract.
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Newcastle’s former Bordeaux midfielder Saivet is expected to be announced at the same time as Veretout, after Toon manager Rafa Benitez replaced him with new central midfield signings Isaac Hayden and Mohamed Diame.
Galtier’s side have been rather inactive this window following 2015-16’s impressive sixth-placed finish, making just three summer signings including Rennes left back Cheick M’Bengue.
Veretout is set to be the eleventh senior player to leave Villa Park this summer, after the likes of Idrissa Gueye, Ciaran Clark and Scott Sinclair were sold.
In other Aston Villa transfer news, this former player is interesting clubs from abroad.