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Aston Villa transfer news: Mbwana Samatta delay as Jonathan Kodjia departs

Villa are set to enter their fourth straight match without a recognised senior striker as they try to complete the signing of Mbwana Samatta.

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The 27-year-old is on the brink of sealing an £8.5million switch from Genk but the deal is currently being held up as the Tanzania international awaits the receipt of a work permit.

With Jonathan Kodjia having now completed his move to Al Gharafa, it means Villa head into Tuesday’s relegation six-pointer against Watford with no senior striker available to boss Dean Smith.

The club has been desperate to add a forward since record buy Wesley was ruled out for the season with a knee injury.

Smith said: “I'm very hopeful Samatta can become an Aston Villa player soon. I believe it's just dotting the Is and crossing the Ts. It's very close.

"There's no need for concern as far as I'm aware. It's disappointing, we would have wanted him in (before Watford) but, even if he had come in today, he'd have had only one morning with the players.

"The lads have got used to it over the last three or four games. Wesley got injured against Burnley and, since then, we've played well at Leicester away in the cup and did well, and Brighton as well.”

Kodjia has been allowed to depart in a deal worth around £2million. The Ivory Coast international scored 31 goals in 106 appearances after joining Villa for £15million in the summer of 2016, though he had failed to find the net in the league this season.

Smith said: “Jimmy's had a tough season. He came back from the AFCON very, very tired after playing through the summer.

“Our season didn't finished until May 27. He got injured at Tottenham on the opening day and has struggled for fitness since due to game time.

"With his contract being up at the end of the season, we hadn't offered him a new contract and so he wanted to look at other avenues and we've allowed that to happen.”

Goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic is close to completing a loan move to Toulouse.