Ritchie de Laet left Aston Villa last summer to join A-League side Melbourne City on loan.
We could see a lot of players bid farewell to Aston Villa in the next few months.
Yannick Bolasie and Andre Moreira saw their loan spells from Everton and Atletico Madrid cut short this week, while the Express and Star claims that Glenn Whelan, Mile Jedinak, Micah Richards and Alan Hutton are all facing uncertain futures with their contracts due to expire in the summer.
The report adds that the Midland club are thinking of the long-term and are planning to reduce the average age and overall cost of an experienced squad.
So do not be surprised if it turns out that Ritchie de Laet has already played his last game in claret and blue.
A £2.5 million signing from Leicester City in the summer of 2016 (The Sun), the Belgian defender struggled to make an impression at Villa Park thanks in part to a long-term injury which kept him on the side-lines for 12 months.
De Laet is currently out on loan at Melbourne City and he has made it clear that he expects to have a new club next season with his contract expiring in June.
“At the end of the season I’m out of contract, so I’m playing for a contract somewhere next season,” the former Manchester United youngster told the Daily Football Show.
“I’m going to keep putting in the performances to get a move somewhere in the summer.”
De Laet has emerged as a surprise goal-scorer this season, netting six goals in 14 games for Melbourne City in the A-League.
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