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Idrissa Gueye set to join Everton from Aston Villa, says Roberto Di Matteo

Idrissa Gueye
Image: Roberto Di Matteo says the deal to take Idrissa Gueye to Everton is due to be completed imminently

Aston Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo expects Idrissa Gueye's move to Everton to be completed imminently, despite other interest.

The Toffees have triggered the midfielder's £7.1m release clause and he has been discussing terms with them this week.

Gueye's clause expires at the end of the transfer window but only Everton have made an official bid.

Villa, relegated from the Premier League last season, want to keep him but Di Matteo is resigned to seeing the 26-year-old Senegal international leave after just one season at the club.

He said: "It's public Everton have triggered his clause and he's going to leave. There's no news so far but the expectation is, once personal terms are agreed and a medical [is done], he's going to go.

Aston Villa manager Robert Di Matteo
Image: Di Matteo says only Everton have made an 'official' bid for Gueye

"There are other clubs interested, that's right, but the only official bid so far has been from Everton.

"There's not much I can do because he had a clause in his contract and that's something I inherited and my hands are tied. We will be losing him.

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"The fact he is leaving is basically down to the clause he has in his contract, otherwise there would be no chance.

"We're not a club looking to sell. We don't have to, we don't need to."

Leicester have turned down an approach from Everton for their head of recruitment Steve Walsh
Image: Steve Walsh was appointed Everton director of football

Gueye joined Villa from Lille in summer 2015 and made 38 appearances, scoring once, as the club were relegated from the top flight last season - winning just three league games.

He could become Everton's first major signing of the summer after they appointed former Leicester assistant manager Steve Walsh, who helped find Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante, as director of football.

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New boss Ronald Koeman has signed Maarten Stekelenburg from Fulham but is yet to make a serious move in the transfer market.

Jordan Veretout, Jordan Amavi and Jordan Ayew have also been linked with moves away from Villa while Brad Guzan joined Middlesbrough on Friday - and could face his former club when Boro travel to Villa Park for a friendly on Saturday.

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