The left-back has been told he can leave Villa Park.
Aston Villa’s Joe Bennett (L)
The Birmingham Mail is reporting that Aston Villa have informed left-back Joe Bennett that he is free to leave the club.
This news comes despite the club pulling the plug on a deal for Bennett to join Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month.
According to the Birmingham Mail, Villa chairman Tony Xia cancelled a deal for Bennett to join Wednesday earlier this month as he did not want the player joining a side that he sees as a direct promotion rival for Villa.
New manager Roberto Di Matteo and New owner Dr Tony Xia pose after the press conference
Now the Villa chairman has taken to Twitter to explain why Bennett was not allowed to join Wednesday, but is free to leave.
He made it clear that he is not happy to let him leave on loan and still pay some of his wages, preferring a permanent transfer:
Bennett is free to find himself another club as he is not being considered for first-team action, with French pair Aly Cissokho and Jordan Amavi currently preferred.
Bennet joined Villa in 2012 and has not featured for the first-team since scoring for the club in a 5-3 win over Notts County in the League Cup a year ago.
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