'Sign him up!' Aston Villa star sends Philippe Coutinho transfer plea

Matty Cash insists it would be an "honour" to play with Philippe Coutinho for many more years as Aston Villa look to secure the Brazilian's signature on a permanent basis this summer.

Coutinho has been in stunning form for Villa since arriving on loan in January, having made seven goal contributions in his first nine games in claret and blue. He joined the club on a six-month deal from Barcelona, who had splashed £142million to get him out of Liverpool four years previously.

Now the playmaker is showing the sort of form which tempted Barca to smash their transfer record to sign him in January 2018, with Villa boss Steven Gerrard getting the best out of him in the Premier League once again. The club have an option to make Coutinho's stay at Villa Park permanent for £33million, yet Gerrard has claimed the move won't be as "straightforward" as he or fans would like.

And Villa defender Cash has seen Coutinho's quality up close and personal. "He makes football look so easy," the Poland international told talkSPORT. "Playing with him and training with him, seeing him around the training ground, he's just next level.

"He's got a shimmy that everybody has seen, it's honestly so quick when you're training with him, but to have him on your team is just brilliant. I've linked up with him a lot in the last couple of games, he's found me and I've found him.

"He's making my crosses look good by putting them in the back of the net! He's such a normal guy, one of the best, most expensive players in the world. Having him around Bodymoor and working with him is next level."

Asked whether there have been conversations about Coutinho's future between teammates at Bodymoor Heath, Cash replied: "Me and Ollie Watkins drive in every day