Roberto Di Matteo keen to clear out surplus stars as Jordan Veretout latest to leave Aston Villa

The French midfielder, one of several players deemed surplus to requirements, has joined St Etienne on a season-long loan.

Joleon Lescott, Adama Traore and Gabriel Agbonlahor have also been told they can leave if the right offer is made, with Di Matteo eager to find a "solution" for all three before the window closes next Wednesday.

Lescott last week turned down a move to Rangers at the last minute, while several Spanish clubs have expressed an interest in Traore, who joined Villa in a £7million deal from Barcelona last summer.

Di Matteo has stressed any deals must be in the best interest of the club but with no option to loan players once the window is shut, he is also eager to avoid a situation similar to that of the "Bomb Squad" which developed during Paul Lambert's tenure, when the likes of Charles N'Zogbia, Darren Bent and Alan Hutton were banished from the first-team.

At present, Lescott, Agbonlahor and Traore spend a portion of their time training with the under-21s and Di Matteo, who insists the relationship between him and the trio remains respectful.

"We are providing everything for all the players who are here and under contract," he said. "We will continue to do that as much as we can. There is a respectful relationship between ourselves and all of the players, those who are part of the group and those who are looking to move as well."

He went on: "It's been quite public what a difficult situation it is. We're sorting it out day by day and eventually we will get to a solution that is best for the club and the team and ourselves."

Di Matteo, who has made seven new signings this summer, remains eager to bring in a new striker before next Wednesday's deadline.

West Ham's Enner Valencia is the latest to be linked, with Villa thought to have had a bid for the Ecuador international turned down.