Greek giants AEK Athens move close to signing French winger from Aston Villa

ASTON VILLA are close to ending Charles N’Zogbia’s calamitous five-year cash drain on the club.

 

Remi Garde dropped Charles N'Zogbia and the winger could soon be leaving Villa Park

 

The French winger is set to join Greek side AEK Athens, ending a stay that has cost Villa pennies short of £400,000 for every time he has started a game.

N’Zogbia cost £9.5m from Wigan in July 2011, when he signed a £65,000-a-week five-year deal. But he made just 63 starts in all that time, weighing in with a measly five goals.

He is set to go with six months of his contract to run as Villa boss Remi Garde confirmed interest from the Greek club.

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And another ill-fated stay at the Premier League’s bottom club is over, Tiago Ilori returning to Liverpool before the end of his season-long loan.

The Portuguese defender has not played a single minute for the club and Garde confirmed he has been sent back to Anfield.

Garde said: “The player was not happy about his situation at this football club and not playing.

 

“When I arrived he was not totally fit, but it was my decision and he’s gone back to Liverpool.”

One man definitely not going anywhere is Jack Grealish as Garde ruled out seeking to let the youngster go out on loan.

The 20-year-old has just got back in favour with Garde after being ordered to train with the under-21s squad as punishment for partying hours after the club’s 4-0 trouncing at Everton in November.

 

Garde said: “He is definitely not going out on loan. He started the last game for us and I wouldn’t have started him to then say he can go out on loan to someone.”

Adama Traore has delivered another shattering blow after the £8m winger was ruled out for up to 10 weeks with a broken foot.

Garde also confirmed he is trying to get Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy on loan.