Jamie Carragher urges Philippe Coutinho not to make 'reckless' Aston Villa transfer decision

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has urged Philippe Coutinho to sign for Aston Villa on a permanent basis in the summer.

The Brazil international joined his former Reds team-mate Steven Gerrard at Villa in January after Barcelona sanctioned his loan switch back to the Premier League.

Villa also have an option to buy Coutinho in the summer and keep him at the club permanently at the end of the season.

He has hit the ground running at Villa Park having recording four goal contributions in his first three games and the Brazilian is showing signs of the stunning form he displayed at Liverpool, before he made the £142million move to Barca four years ago.

And Carragher hopes Coutinho makes the right decision in the summer after years of feeling unsettled elsewhere in Europe.

“It is rare for any footballer to go through a career without having some regrets”, Carragher wrote in his Daily Telegraph column.

“Every decision can have an impact on the short and long-term future.

“Given what has happened since 2018, it would be strange if Coutinho has not often wished to turn back the clock and take a different path.

“If the positive early signs are a taste of what is to come, he may have a familiar dilemma should Villa seek a permanent £33m deal come the summer.

“To walk away from a club where the fans and manager adore him once would be careless.

“Doing it again would be reckless.”