Yesterday, Lorient striker Jordan Ayew and his father Abédi Pelé spent three hours with Lorient Sporting Director Christophe Le Roux and Vice-President Alex Hayes to discuss a €10m plus €2m bonus offer from Aston Villa. Lorient rejected the proposal.

Jordan Ayew had the following to say to L’Équipe:

“It is incomprehensible. I was told that I could leave for €12m, but now they are asking for 10 million, in pounds, with 2 million in bonuses, which makes up about €17m! What the hell! This meeting finished very badly. I am really very annoyed, but it is incredible what they are doing to me.

"They were telling me about how much Amavi was bought for by Aston Villa, but I am not Amavi. We are two different players who have two different situations. They are basically saying that English clubs can only pay more, because they have money.

“It is finished for me, they bought me for €5m and they are blocking me. Today, I am in Brimingham, I am on my way to Aston Villa. Nothing will change my decision. I told them: 'But why do you want to keep me at this point?'

"I won’t forget that last season, I did not play a single pre-season match and that I was quite badly criticised at the beginning of the season, but nobody at the club defended me. Members of staff would apparently reply by saying: 'It is the President who bought him…'

"Also, my whole family wants to go to England… It is the right moment, my wife speaks English.

"In any case, I am no longer going to training. It is finished for me. It is true that I have a contract, but I had a good year, they will make a good profit and you cannot change the rules of the game like that.

"I can leave for one sum, but if it is Aston Villa, I am worth more. In my head, in any case, I have left.”