SIGN HIM UP!
Cash in transfer plea to Villa as Phil reveals he is ready to take a pay cut
MATTY Cash insists it would be an “honour” to play with Philippe Coutinho for many more years as Villa look to secure the Brazilian’s signature on a permanent basis this summer.
Coutinho has been in stunning form 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 £142 million 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 £33 million, yet Gerrard has claimed the move won’t be as “straightforward” as he or fans would like.
And defender Cash has seen Coutinho’s quality up close and personal.
“He makes football look so easy,” said the Poland international. “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 team-mates at Bodymoor Heath, Cash replied: “Me and Ollie Watkins drive in every day and I said to him, ‘We need to sign him. Sign him up! I’ll leave the club to do that’. Everyone knows how important he is for us, so it would be a real honour for us to play another couple of years with him.
“It sounds a bit cliché, but we’re just trying to build a platform really. Two years ago we nearly got relegated out the Premier League, to being ninth in the table, it’s a great achievement.
“But we don’t want to be sat here, we want to be pushing higher up. You’ve always got to build a platform to get to the next level which is in Europe, which is what we want to achieve.
“Since the gaffer has come in that has been the main subject, we’re building towards that and with the players we have got and the potential we have got, we should be looking at the places in Europe.
“You can only focus on what is next and that’s game by game. The size of the club deserves to go to the next level.”
Sources in Spain claim Coutinho is willing to take a cut on his reported £400,000-a-week wages in a bid to secure a move back to the Premier League on a permanent basis.
“Both Barca and Coutinho want to settle the contract that unites them until June 2023,’’ it said. “The main option in this next summer market is a transfer estimated at 40 million euros and that would help to amortise their signing, although the main obstacle is the salary of the Brazilian, whose exact amount has not been made public.
“Club sources assure that the Brazilian always does his part to overcome this obstacle. In all the transfers that have been made, such as against Bayern or now at Aston Villa, the player has tried to facilitate all kinds of agreements.”
Villa are reportedly paying £120,000 of Coutinho’s wages with Barca already making plans for his exit and are lining up a suitable replacement ahead of the summer. They like the look of Leeds talisman Raphinha, Coutinho’s compatriot and Brazil team-mate, who could leave Elland Road regardless of their league status next season.
Reports have emerged suggesting Barca, who also have a decision to make with Wolves over the future of Adama Traore, have already had a bid rejected by Leeds, so the summer window will be telling.
The fact the Catalan club are hunting for a further attacking option already, though, could play into Villa’s hands when they are negotiating for Coutinho.