Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor could be set for USA move

The club are thought to be exploring the possibility of sending their longest-serving player and former captain to an MLS expansion team during the next transfer window, after the idea was first mooted by the striker's agent.

Agbonlahor, who is set to make his first appearance in a Villa shirt since pre-season when he turns out for the club's under-23s at Fulham on Monday, has been deemed surplus to requirements by manager Roberto Di Matteo but turned down opportunities to leave the club during the summer.

His decision to reject a deadline day loan switch to Reading exasperated club bosses but owner Tony Xia has ruled out paying up the final two years of the striker's £40,000-a-week contract, in the hope it will finally motivate the 29-year-old into kick-starting his career.

A move across the Atlantic is now considered a serious possibility, with Agbonlahor heading to either Atlanta or Minnesota, both of which have teams set to enter the MLS in 2017.

Agbonlahor, a product of the Bodymoor Heath youth academy, has spent his entire career at Villa but has experienced a steady fall from grace which accelerated in the final months of last season as the club suffered a humiliating exit from the Premier League.

Having scored just once in 18 appearances, the striker was deemed to be out of shape by caretaker boss Eric Black and placed on a two-week fitness programme in April.

Greater shame then followed when Agbonlahor was pictured out partying on the night the Villa's relegation was confirmed, an incident which led to him being briefly suspended by the club before resigning the club captaincy.

Despite featuring in early pre-season, Agbonlahor was quickly informed he was not part of Di Matteo's plans and has spent the past few weeks training with the youth team while the club tried to help with a possible escape route.