Pundit says Villa can sign ‘brilliant’ Coutinho this summer

Phillipe Coutinho has impressed since joining Aston Villa on a short-term loan in January and could join the club permanently if his €40m (£33.6m) buying option is triggered before June. Frank McAvennie believes the ‘brilliant’ Coutinho ‘will want to stay’ as he’s been outstanding in the midlands.

The 29-year-old fell out of favour at Barcelona and was deemed surplus to requirements by Xavi which was how Steven Gerrard lured him to Villa Park two months ago. Coutinho has turned his career around back in England, however, so Villa could be one of many clubs interested in procuring his signature.

There’s no guarantee Coutinho will stay at Villa Park beyond the summer as he’ll have to take a sizeable wage cut, but McAvennie is confident that Gerrard can convince him to sign. He told Football Insider: “He’s made his money over in Barcelona. I think he will want to stay at Villa.

“He has been so, so good for them and I’m sure they will want to do everything to keep him. Coutinho must know Villa can’t pay him what he’s earning at the moment. He will still earn a very good wage, let’s be real, there’s no way Villa can pay that even though they aren’t exactly short of cash.

“As I say, I see no problems here and this is the kind of signing you want to see from Villa. He’s been brilliant for them so I’m sure he will want to stay and continue that.” Coutinho has made nine Premier League appearances for Villa, scoring four goals with three assists. He’s created 14 chances, made 16 successful dribbles, whipped in eight crosses and had 24 shots with 41% hitting the target.

Coutinho is still a Barcelona player who’s won major honours at the highest level, so Villa will have to match his ambition for him to sign.

In other news, Paul