Dunne among five released by Villa

Richard Dunne, Eric Lichaj, Andy Marshall, Jean Makoun and Simon Dawkins have been released by Aston Villa, the club have confirmed.

Republic of Ireland international Dunne, United States defender Lichaj and goalkeeper Marshall are all at the end of their contracts and have been released.

Makoun, who spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Rennes, will join the French club after they took up the option to buy him.

Dawkins, who has been on loan at Villa Park since January from Tottenham, will return to his parent club.

Meanwhile, the contracts of Graham Burke, Derrick Williams, Michael Drennan, Samir Carruthers and Daniel Johnson are set to expire but all five of the Young Lions have been offered extensions.

Dunne, 33, did not play for Villa boss Paul Lambert last season due to injury and ended a year of misery by coming on for the final 25 minutes of Sunday's 4-0 international friendly victory over Georgia - his first action since June last year.

The defender, who signed for Villa in 2009 from Manchester City, was hoping to use the end-of-season games with the Republic as a shop window in an attempt to find a new club, but he now appears to have lost his bid to start Friday's World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

However, Celtic boss Neil Lennon has already shown an interest in bringing the experienced defender to Parkhead, although he admitted his age could count against him.

Lennon told the Daily Record: "We have made no formal or informal movements as yet.

"Richard has had injury problems and hasn't played for a long time, so I don't know what kind of condition he is in.

"And the way we have been signing players over the years, he would fall out of that category, but he is a player I have known a long time and have always liked.

"We have also signed guys like Daniel Majstorovic before and it is always good to have one or two experienced players in."

Lichaj, now also a free agent, had loan spells at Lincoln, Leyton Orient and Leeds during his time on Villa's books.

The 24-year-old defender has made just 30 starts and 12 appearances from the bench since signing for the club in 2008.

Goalkeeper Marshall, 38, has slipped down the pecking order at the club and is released after failing to make any starts for the club last season.

Makoun signed a permanent deal with Rennes in April, with Villa announcing at the time that: "Rennes will exercise their option to complete a permanent move for Jean Makoun in the summer transfer window.

"The deal for an undisclosed fee will go through on 1 July."

Attacking midfielder Dawkins, meanwhile, will return to White Hart Lane after his loan spell at Villa and previously at San Jose Earthquakes.