Aston Villa defender Jose Angel Crespo confirms he could make PAOK move

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The Greek club are currently in talks with Villa over a deal for the 29-year-old Spaniard.

Aston Villa defender Jose Angel Crespo has confirmed to Greek outlet SDNA that talks are taking place over a deal to sell him to PAOK.

Crespo joined Villa from Spanish side Cordoba last summer for a reported £500,000 fee but struggled to break into the first-team picture over the first half of the 2015-16 season, making just two appearances for the club.

The 29-year-old centre-back was eventually loaned out to Rayo Vallecano in January and went on to feature nine times for the Madrid-based outfit over the rest of the campaign before his spell ended with their relegation from La Liga.

He had been hoping to get the chance of a fresh start at Villa this summer with a new manager in place in Roberto Di Matteo, but it now looks like the former Spain Under-21 international could be heading for an imminent departure.

The Birmingham Mail reported earlier this week that Greek Super League team PAOK were weighing up a move for the former Sevilla man, and now Crespo himself has confirmed that talks have taken place.

The two sides are currently still negotiating a deal, but the Spaniard has stressed that he would be happy to make the move across Europe if an agreement can be reached.

“My agent is one that could inform better on the issue of a possible transfer and what is going to happen,” Crespo told SDNA. “I do not know if eventually the transfer will proceed, but if Aston Villa accept a proposal that leaves them satisfied then I would love this option.

“It is a league and a country that I do not know, but I find the choice of PAOK quite attractive. I cannot say more at the moment. PAOK is a large group and, as I said, an attractive choice for my career personally.”

Crespo still has two years left on his Villa contract, but the club may be willing to let him leave for a relatively modest fee given how eager Di Matteo is to reduce the size of his squad this summer.

The out-of-favour stopper is due to return for pre-season training on 28 June as things stand, but don’t expect him to still be in B6 when the Championship campaign kicks off in August.