Aston Villa tipped to complete 'cheap' Barcelona transfer that Steven Gerrard wants

Alex McLeish has suggested Philippe Coutinho could join Aston Villa permanently for a "very decent" fee this summer.

Villa have an option to buy the Brazilian at the end of the season when his loan move ends, after he initially joined for six months from Barcelona in January.

He has made an impressive start to life at the club, having made seven goal contributions in his first nine games.

Reports claim that other clubs could move for Coutinho if his form remains at a high level from now until the end of the season, but Villa will have a strong chance of keeping him at the club if he is settled.

And McLeish thinks Villa must do all they can to keep him at the club on a permanent basis, claiming he is a "world-class" talent.

Discussing Coutinho’s form, McLeish told Football Insider: “It’s in no small way down to Gerrard and Gary McAllister being there.

“Players, especially when I dealt with foreign players, they just love to be loved. Not every player does, don’t get me wrong. Some players like a little bit of firmness.

“But some of them just like the coach to be impressed by them. Sir Alex Ferguson said to me, when times were changing, that all players want to hear now is: ‘Well done.’ That’s all they want to hear from a coach.

“I guess Coutinho has been really welcomed by Villa. Obviously, he’s got a great rapport with Steven Gerrard. What’s not to like about Philippe Coutinho at his full level?

“He’s been brilliant and no wonder Stevie is trying to keep him. That £33million does seem, in these modern times, a very decent and cheap, cheap deal for a player who’s potentially world-class.”