Exit route now emerging for Aston Villa star who admitted ‘I can’t stay’

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Aston Villa defender Frederic Guilbert is expected to join a Ligue 1 team during the January transfer window. The Frenchman recently admitted that he was considering a move away.

That is according to Foot Mercato, which reports ‘everything indicates’ to Guilbert sealing a return to his home country. The right-back had played his entire career in France before joining the Villans in 2019. He also headed to Ligue 1 on loan in January 2021 to June 2022.

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Aston Villa are unlikely to now block Guilbert from sealing a permanent transfer by setting a lofty valuation. He is out of contract in June and has failed to force his way back into the team upon Unai Emery’s arrival. Like Steven Gerrard, the Spaniard is freezing Guilbert out.

Frederic Guilbert is set for a transfer away from the fringes at Aston Villa

Guilbert has not played a single game for Aston Villa since making his 32nd appearance in claret-and-blue in August 2021. Gerrard started the 28-year-old at AFC Barrow in the EFL Cup and saw the full-back score and create one goal during a 6-0 win in the second round.

Yet Guilbert then left Aston Villa and joined RC Strasbourg Alsace in another loan transfer for the full 2021/22 season. He had spent the latter half of the 2020/21 term at the Stade de la Meinau Strasbourg on loan, too. The right-back also impressed while with Le Racing.

Johan Lange told Frederic Guilbert to find a new club back in November

Strasbourg saw Guilbert lay on four assists in 33 Ligue 1 appearances during the 2021/22 campaign, starting in 28 fixtures. Yet the former France U21 international has not made a single first-team matchday squad since he returned to Aston Villa under Gerrard or Emery.

So, Aston Villa sporting director Johan Lange told Guilbert to find a new club in November, Birmingham Live reported. The Villans chief is loath to let the £40k-a-week outcast leave in a Bosman deal at the end of the season. But he might allow a free transfer during January.

Guilbert also told Alsa Sports in December that ‘I can’t stay in this situation forever’ after training with the U21s. He also added: “For the moment, there is nothing but I’m open to suggestions. I’m on the market. What matters to me is to play and find pleasure quickly.”