Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho has been linked with a move away from the Spanish club once now.
According to a report from the Mirror, Aston Villa are now looking to sign the Brazilian midfielder, and Steven Gerrard has personally made a phone call to the former Liverpool star in order to lure him to Villa Park.
Gerrard and Coutinho played together during their time at Liverpool, and the new Aston Villa manager will be hoping to secure the Barcelona midfielder’s services as soon as possible.
Aston Villa could use more quality and depth in the final third, and Coutinho could be an exceptional addition for them if the Brazilian manages to regain his confidence and sharpness.
The 29-year-old is still a top-class player, and he played his best football in the Premier League with Liverpool. A return to England could help him recapture his form.
Coutinho can play in multiple roles, and his versatility will be an asset for Aston Villa.
Barcelona are under financial pressure, and they will be desperate to get Coutinho off their books. This is a golden opportunity for Villa to sign the player for a knockdown price.
Villa have been missing that extra bit of creativity since the departure of Jack Grealish to Manchester City, and Coutinho could fill that void.
Apart from being an exceptional passer and dribbler, the Barcelona midfielder is lethal from the long-range, and he will add a new dimension to the Aston Villa attack.
Furthermore, the chance to reunite with Steven Gerrard could be a tempting proposition for the player. Gerrard knows the player well from their time together as teammates, and he could help Coutinho regain his peak form.
The transfer makes sense for all parties involved, and it will be interesting to see if the two clubs can secure an agreement in the coming days.
A loan deal until the end of the season seems quite likely, but Villa would do well to secure an option to buy the player permanently for a reasonable price at the end of the season.
