Aston Villa owner Tony Xia has shed some light on the future of out of favour midfielder Jordan Veretout, who has been the subject of a confusing tussle between French outfit St Etienne and Italian club Fiorentina. 

The French midfielder spent last season on loan in his homeland at St Etienne and looked set to return to the French club this summer, on a permanent deal.

However, the 24-year-old angered the French club by attempting to make a move to Italy to join Fiorentina, which made St Etienne sporting director Dominique Rocheteau think that his club was just a second choice for the Frenchman.

This is when Xia took to Twitter to attempt to clarify the situation and also maybe take some of the heat coming Veretout's way off of him - which is a mature way to treat a player who is clearly surplus to requirements at Villa Park.

Xia said that the club took the decision to try to move the player on to Fiorentina as the Italian side met the Midlands club's valuation of the player, whereas St Etienne were trying to secure a cut-price deal - using the knowledge that the player is not in Steve Bruce's plans for next season and with Veretout having agreed to join the club himself.

Villa fans - what do you make of the furore surrounding Veretout? Do you want him gone at any price or are you pleased that Xia is holding out for a deal that matches his valuation of the player? Let us know in the comments below...