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Joe Bennett is closing in on a permanent move to Sheffield Wednesday, the Birmingham Mail understands.

Aston Villa’s Championship rivals have been keen on the 26-year-old all summer and are expected to sign the left-back in the next 24 hours.

Bennett was left out of Villa’s opening day defeat at Hillsborough as boss Roberto Di Matteo favoured Aly Cissokho and Jordan Amavi ahead of the ex-Middlesbrough man.

And after holding talks with the manager over the weekend, he has decided that a move away from Villa is now his best option.

Owls boss Carlos Cavalhal has tracked the full-back all summer after he impressed on loan last season.

And providing he passes a medical today, Bennett will become a Wednesday player.

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Di Matteo has also told Gabby Agbonlahor and Joleon Lescott that they can find new clubs as he looks to restructure his playing squad while Carlos Sanchez and Jordan Veretout are expected to move on, too.

So far this summer Villa have offloaded Jose Angel Crespo, Carles Gil, Ciaran Clark, Idrissa Gana and Scott Sinclair and Bennett looks to be next.

It will come as a disappointment to some supporters who were hoping to see the left-back in action this season.

His attack-minded ways had won over fans during pre-season but Di Matteo decided that the two Frenchmen were his favoured left-backs.