Aston Villa released Gabby Agbonlahor after they were defeated in the Championship play-off final, but is he now heading to Turkey?
For the first time since a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday 13 years ago, Gabby Agbanlahor could be about to represent a club that is not Aston Villa.
The 31-year-old striker brought an end to over a decade at the Midland giants at the end of last season. He was released upon the expiry of his contract after Villa lost the Championship play-off final to Fulham.
It is fair to say that was not the way Agbonlahor, who made 391 appearances for his boyhood club and captained them on a number of occasions, wanted to bid farewell.
Although Turkish Football believes the former England international is closing in on a new destination as he aims to kick-start a career that has stalled badly in recent years.
It is reported that newly promoted Super Lig outfit Yeni Malatyaspor have made him an offer and are confident that Agbonlahor will make the journey to Turkey at some point in the next few days.
The Mirror (live blog, 6.39pm) had reported in early June that Agbonlahor could have been set for a shock return to Villa almost immediately after leaving, with a financial crisis then preventing Steve Bruce from bringing in new additions.
That did not come to fruition, however, and Agbonlahor now looks set for a new beginning abroad.
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