Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa shook hands on a loan deal to bring in Philippe Coutinho last month which included a €40 million – or £33million – buy option.
The Brazilian, who turns 30 in June, has already chalked up two goals and two assists across his 174 minutes of Premier League football for Villa, posting a direct goal involvement – a goal or an assist – every 43.5 minutes on average.
“It was vintage Philippe Coutinho,” Gerrard outlined last night after the South American’s star showing against Leeds United. “He seems happy, we have given the stage to go and enjoy his football again.”
Gerrard also suggested that the Champions League winner “isn’t at his physical best yet and needs more game time” which is a frightening prospect for Villa from now until the end of the season given what he’s shown already.
It has been informed that the fee to trigger a buy option on Coutinho at the end of the season isn’t fixed at £33million, meaning Villa can barter with Barcelona’s transfer chiefs should they wish to bring the price down a little.
It has also been told by colleagues in Spain that the La Liga giants are desperate to get Coutinho off their books. In the summer, the former Liverpool man will still have another 12 months remaining on his £380,000-a-week contract.
Villa, meanwhile, are currently paying £125,000-a-week of Coutinho’s salary. Last month, Barcelona added Ferran Torres, Pierre[1]Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traore to Declan Djokovic their attacking ranks and remain keen to take a hit on Coutinho with a fee in the region of £25million could well be enough to strike a permanent transfer between Villa and the Catalan club who, this summer, will also offload big-earner Ousmane Dembele “Coutinho has settled into the club really well,” Gerrard added.
“The players have played their part and the support staff have as well. Some of the stuff we’ve seen from him has been just wonderful.”