Philippe Coutinho has made feelings clear on Aston Villa transfer

Philippe Coutinho is set to leave Barcelona permanently this summer with several Premier League clubs monitoring his situation at Aston Villa.

The Brazil international returned to the Premier League as he joined Villa on loan until the end of the season and the club have a £33million option to keep Coutinho for the foreseeable future. He would likely become the highest paid player in the club's history, while he would also take up near enough a third of Steven Gerrard's summer transfer budget.

Six weeks ago you would have struggled to find a Villa fan who'd question the big-money move, but since the Brazilian has failed to register a single goal contribution in his last six appearances, his inconsistencies have raised issue. Gerrard has already confirmed that he wants the playmaker to sign a permanent deal and hopes that when the window opens in June, Villa chiefs will green light his transfer from Barca.

The key for Coutinho to rediscover his best level on the pitch is confidence and enjoyment in playing the game, according to his former Liverpool team-mate Gerrard. He said: "The key thing for Phil is he needs to be in a place where he feels loved and supported, he needs to be smiling and enjoying his football.

"I think anyone that goes to work and they're not enjoying themselves or in a positive place, it's difficult to be at your best. He's 29 years of age, he's won all kinds of different things and he's still got that hunger to play and contribute."

Having joined Villa three-and-a-half months ago, Coutinho has previously insisted that he is enjoying his football again, playing under Gerrard. Speaking to Globo Esporte, he suggested the he is only getting started at his new club: "I have a beautiful story at