Liverpool linked with shock Aston Villa transfer as Steven Gerrard tipped to make 'important' call

Here are your latest Aston Villa headlines as Steven Gerrard's side gear up to face Newcastle United this afternoon...

Paul Merson thinks that Philippe Coutinho can fire Aston Villa starlet Jacob Ramsey into the England squad.

Ramsey has gone to another level in a Villa shirt this season, especially since Coutinho arrived on loan from Barcelona last month; he has scored five Premier League goals this season, and three of those have come since the Brazilian broke into the starting XI alongside him under Steven Gerrard.

With Manchester United leading 2-0 at Villa Park last month, Ramsey scored and then teed up Coutinho to equalise late on. Against Leeds in the week, Coutinho returned the favour twice in the first half with excellent assists and Ramsey duly converted.

Coutinho himself also found the net, and it’s a partnership that appears to be blossoming right now.

For young Ramsey, it likely means that Gareth Southgate is keeping tabs; he has seen plenty of Villa in recent years and has called up Jack Grealish, Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings in that time.

Might Ramsey be next? Merson, formerly a Villa player himself, believes so, if the Ramsey-Coutinho combination continues to flourish.

Merson, speaking to Sports Keeda, believes that there’ll be goals this weekend when Villa visit Newcastle United, and he’s backing the spoils to be shared in a 2-2 draw.

“If it wasn’t for Allan Saint-Maximin, Newcastle weren’t winning their game against Everton. He was outstanding on the day, and they’re going to go on the attack here,” Merson said.

Liverpool are reportedly tracking the progress of in-form Aston Villa youngster Jacob Ramsey.

The Reds are conscious of the maturing ages of some of their current midfielders, with the