Coutinho set for cut-price Villa deal

ASTON VILLA are confident of reaching an agreement with Barcelona that would allow them to sign Philippe Coutinho on a cut-price deal this summer. Coutinho has been on loan at Villa Park since January, with an option to buy for £33million at the end of the campaign. Manager Steven Gerrard, who played with Coutinho at Liverpool, is keen for Villa to make the move permanent and the clubs are believed to be in discussions. The 29-year-old has scored four goals and made three assists in the league this season, although he has been more subdued in recent matches after having made a flying start. Reports in Spain suggest Barcelona might be willing to do business for as little as £12.9m — although Coutinho is on a lucrative contract at the Catalan club and is likely to have to accept a pay cut to extend his stay at Villa. Barcelona need to remove some of the higher earners from their wage bill in order to have room for manoeuvre in the transfer market this season. They showed interest in signing Manchester City-bound Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund and are also monitoring Robert Lewandowski’s contract talks at Bayern Munich.

Gerrard will receive backing from Villa’s billionaire owners to make significant moves in the transfer market this summer. As well as Coutinho (right), Gerrard has prioritised a holding midfielder and has expressed interest in Leeds star Kalvin Phillips and Yves Bissouma of Brighton, who rejected a bid from Villa in January. Villa are also in the market for at least one centre back and another striker.