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Tim Sherwood’s summer transformation is stalling as the Aston Villa boss is struggling to offload the dead wood.

Frustrated Sherwood has told a number of players that they can look for a move away as he bids to freshen up the squad ahead of the Premier League opener on August 8.

Matt Lowton, Andreas Weimann and Shay Given have already departed but the gaffer is hoping for further exits before the transfer window closes.

Here in Portugal the manager has laid on gruelling sessions for his players and is making a breakthrough with those who he feels will be valuable next term.

There are, however, a group of players in the back of his mind who he knows have no long-term future.

“I think we still need to get rid of five, six, or seven maybe,” he said.

“But I know how difficult it is, it’s not easy.

“When you have players at the club who are on big money and enjoying the environment they are in, it’s hard.

“The boys love the training ground.

“They are on good money. I understand it from their point of view.

“I’m not blaming the players - the club gave them the contracts, it’s not their fault - you just have to hope they have the opportunity to move elsewhere.”

Sherwood has signed Micah Richards and Idrissa Gueye already this summer and a £9m deal for Nice left-back Jordan Amavi is close.

In an ideal world the claret and blues boss would still like three more arrivals but that will depend on who can sell.

“We would like to strengthen in every area but we haven’t got the bottomless pit of money,” he told the Birmingham Mail at Villa’s training camp in Portugal.

“I am going to get a lot of players fit who won’t be here at the start of the season.

“That’s a little bit frustrating but it’s part of the job.

“We’re never going to have the ones we want here (in the Algarve) to move forward.

“Fabian’s back at home because his wife is having a baby, Sanchez and Guzan are away (and Gueye is not joining up).

“As soon as we can get those bodies back, and add some new arrivals, and get some out, I will be happy.”

On the training field Sherwood has been trying to toughen up his side.

He wants them to be stronger and fitter than last season when they kick off against Bournemouth in three weeks time.

Whether he will have the starting XI that he wants in place by then remains to be seen.

“Circumstances change when a new manager comes in,” he said.

“I wants to bring in my own players but the players here have every right to sit on their contracts if they want.

“I don’t hold that against them.

“I don’t think they should really have to move unless they want to.

“Hopefully there is some offers which come in that are attractive for them and I will let them go.”