Six players put up for sale at Villa

Villa manager Martin O'Neill has taken the first step towards a summer-clear out at the club by putting six players up for sale.

Curtis Davies, Luke Young, Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell, Nicky Shorey and Habib Beye – all of whom have struggled to hold down a place last season – have all been told they can leave if the price is right.

The six were all signed by O'Neill but endured frustrating campaigns spent mainly on the sidelines – only Sidwell and Young started more than 10 Premier League games – as the manager opted to stick largely with the same team.

News the out-of-favour group are surplus to requirements comes as no great surprise with rumours rife O'Neill will have a smaller transfer budget at his disposal this summer, which would force him to wheel and deal.

Only Young's availability for transfer would be likely to rankle with fans, after the right-back received a standing ovation from the Villa Park crowd coming on as a substitute in Sunday's game with Blackburn.

The former England international, signed from Middlesbrough for £6million two years ago, has controversially been forced to play second fiddle to centre-back Carlos Cuellar for the right-back position for the vast majority of the campaign.

Sidwell has failed to meet expectations since arriving from Chelsea two summers ago and has become a bit-part player, since the return to fitness of Stewart Downing paved the way for James Milner to switch to central midfield.

While Reo-Coker has only recently returned from a lengthy lay-off with an ankle injury, the former West Ham skipper's Villa career has looked on borrowed time ever since his training-ground bust-up with O'Neill in the autumn.

Villa would be fortunate to receive half of the £8.5million they paid for the 25-year-old midfielder but they look set to make an even bigger loss on Curtis Davies, who signed a permanent deal worth up to £10million in 2008 after a season-long loan from Albion.

The centre-back was named in an England squad only last season but a shoulder injury, combined with the outstanding form of new arrivals Richard Dunne and James Collins, has left him struggling to even secure a place on the bench since returning to fitness in January.

The writing has long looked on the wall for Shorey for some time, after spending most of the campaign on loan at Nottingham Forest and Fulham.

Marlon Harewood and Freddie Bouma have already been told their contracts will not be renewed and are available on free transfers.