COUT-PRICE BARGAIN!

Gerrard purring after signing his old team-mate for £129m LESS than Barcelona paid Liverpool

STEVEN GERRARD expects bargain-buy Philippe Coutinho to become a revelation after his permanent signing.

Aston Villa have snapped up the Brazil international in one of the cut-price deals of all time. Coutinho cost Barcelona £146million just four years ago, when they signed him from Liverpool. But Villa have forked out just £17m for the 29-year-old.

Coutinho starts against Crystal Palace tomorrow with his gaffer drooling over what might lie ahead.

Gerrard (with Coutinho, right, and in their Liverpool days, far right) said: “His head has been all over the place, not knowing where he was going to be playing.

“We still have three games to go and then he will get a rest. It won’t be just a physical rest, but a mental one, too. Now he has a focus and purpose, he knows his importance.

“To see Philippe’s reaction after he signed was brilliant from my point of view because you got that feeling he was desperate to be here.

“He wanted to be part of it and, when a player of that calibre wants to share a journey with you, then, for me, it’s a no-brainer. Since he’s come in he’s lifted everyone.”

Gerrard reckons it is easy to forget Coutinho is still only 29, saying: “He’s still in his prime. He came here and wasn’t really fit in terms of match fitness or game time.

“He’s enjoying his football and will be a big player here for the coming years. He’s a standard setter. He’s first on the training pitch and last off. He’s in the gym and his diet is immaculate.

“All the players, especially the younger ones, can learn from him and he’s up for that because he’s very approachable. The young players are always in his ear.”

One such youngster is 20-yearold academy product

Jacob Ramsey, who has just walked off with the club’s Players’ Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.

Gerrard added: “Over the next 15 years he can be whatever he wants to be and we will give him all the support we can.

“I’m not surprised he won both awards because he’s a big, big talent.

“He is the driver of his own future. I actually see him getting stronger and having more power by the week. He’s only going to get better.”