Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards faces being dumped by Aston Villa.

The Mirror says Villa boss Steve Bruce has recommended that the club pays-off Richards.

Richards has been surplus for well over a season and the Geordie has asked the new owners of the Birmingham club to end his contract.

Richards, 30, has barely featured for Villa, making just 24 league starts since he joined the club from Manchester City over three years ago.

Villa's boss has indicated that fitness issues have kept him out of contention since then.