Paul Merson makes Aston Villa transfer claim after Everton 'gamble'

Aston Villa completed the signing of the third most expensive transfer in football history in January, and while many thought it was one of the most extraordinary bits of business in recent years, Paul Merson did not necessarily share this view.

Merson has ranked his top five transfers in the recent window, putting Kieran Trippier, Donny van de Beek, Luis Diaz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Dele Alli above the former £142million man.

Speaking in his latest column for Sportskeeda, Merson did say he thought Coutinho was a good signing and not as much of a gamble as Alli joining Everton from Tottenham - even though he did not feature in his top five deals.

"I like this transfer – I think Philippe Coutinho’s a great player for the Premier League," he said.

"I don’t think this is as much a gamble as Dele Alli’s signing.

"If Coutinho’s transfer doesn’t work out, it doesn’t matter as much.

"I don’t think he can get back to what he was at Liverpool, but I do think he adds value to Steven Gerrard’s squad."

Coutinho has made an immediate impact at Villa following his debut goal to equalise against Manchester United in the dying embers of the game. Since then, he has gone on to score his first goal for Brazil since October 2020, with a stunning long-range effort against Paraguay.

People close to the player have stated "they have never seen him as happy and ready to fight as they see him now at Aston Villa", according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Villa have Leeds United, Newcastle United, Watford, Brighton and Southampton as their next five opponents. If they manage to get Coutinho back to full fitness and bursting with confidence, Steven Gerrard could fire his side into a late push for European football in the second