Gokhan Inler is interesting Aston Villa and could move there when the transfer window opens in January

Gokhan Inler could be set to join Aston Villa as Claudio Ranieri prepares to let some of his fringe players leave Leicester.

The midfielder is interesting Aston Villa, while Andrej Kramaric and Yohan Benalouane could also be allowed to leave the club in order to get more game time.

Inler has started only two Premier League games for the Foxes following his summer transfer from Italian side Napoli.

Forward Kramaric is yet to start a match this campaign - so good have strikers Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez been - and defender Benalouane has suffered the same fate.

The latter could return to Italy having only recently come to England from Atalanta, with Sampdoria keen on recruiting the centre-back.

Inler is happy at Leicester but appreciates he needs to play more if he is to safeguard his place as Switzerland's captain ahead of the European Championships.

His agent Dino Lamberti this week conceded a move elsewhere might be the best option for the 89-times capped international.

Villa manager Remi Garde is tracking the 31-year-old as he looks to improve a squad which currently sits bottom of the table and 10 points from safety.

Yohan Benalouane is another player who could leave Leicester as Sampdoria show interest in him

Garde said: "I'm aware of this (Inler's) situation because I've looked at all the players who could be interested in this situation because of the Euros. I don't want to say to you where he is on my list.

"Of course, every player who will play Euros I am interested in because they are good players. It doesn't mean they will come or that I have already called them. But I know him very well."

Ranieri added: "I would like to maintain everyone but I understand if they want to go. I hope to replace them if they do."