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Aston Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo is resigned to losing Idrissa Gana to Everton in a £7.1million deal this weekend.

New Everton manager Ronald Koeman has triggered the release clause in the Senegal midfielder's contract, weakening Di Matteo's hand just a week before Villa kick off their SkyBet Championship campaign at Sheffield Wednesday.

Di Matteo said: “It's public knowledge that Everton have triggered the clause in his contract, so he is going to leave.

“There's not much you can do because he has a release clause – that's something I inherited so my hands are tied. We'll be losing him.

“Once personal terms are agreed and he passes the medical, he is going to go and there's nothing I can do about it.”

(Image: Neville Williams) (Image: Getty)

Villa owner Dr Tony Xia also weighed in on Twitter, bemoaning escape clauses:

"Once someone has clause in contract, looks like being giving a chance to betray. Said staying one day and escaped the other day. D now G!" he tweeted.

Goalkeeper Brad Guzan has also sprung the escape hatch at Villa Park, completing his move to promoted Middlesbrough on a two-year contract.

(Image: Twitter / Middlesbrough FC)

Di Matteo said: “Everything in life has a beginning and an end, and Brad's time at Aston Villa has come to an end, but we wish him well.”

The new Villa boss expects to have better luck keeping hold of Republic of Ireland defender Ciaran Clark, despite interest from neighbours West Brom.

“Ciaran is a Villa man, a Villa boy, he has pledged his future to us and he is very happy to stay here,” said Di Matteo, whose side face Boro in a pre-season friendly today.