Door open for Aston Villa to sign Kalvin Phillips after £17m+ deal is done – Agbonlahor
Philippe Coutinho may help convince Kalvin Phillips to sign for Aston Villa this summer, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Aston Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer claimed the presence of Coutinho and Steven Gerrard will help the club in the transfer market.
The Athletic reported earlier this week (16 May) that the Midlands giants have paid Barcelona just over £17million for the 29-year-old who has signed a four-year deal worth £125,000-a-week.
A recruitment source told Football Insider the same day that Newcastle United and Villa are leading the race for Phillips.
The 26-year-old’s future is up in the air with Leeds battling relegation and he will enter the final two years of his contract this summer.
Asked whether Coutinho can help attract better players to Villa Park, Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “100 per cent.
“Players will look at Coutinho and think ‘I want to play with him. If he’s signed for Aston Villa there must be a project going on there’.
“Even the manager himself will attract players.
“There was talk of Phillips and Bissouma and these are players Aston Villa can look at. If Leeds go down then Phillips will be available for a cut fee.
“Yes, there are worries about his injury problem, that might be something Villa look at.
“That position can change your fortunes dramatically. West Ham without Declan Rice would be 11th or 12th.
“Villa with a Declan Rice in there along with McGinn and Ramsey with Ings, Watkins and Coutinho up front is a top, top team. The defence picks itself. That should be pushing for the top six.”
In other news, this is what Aston Villa stars really say about Coutinho behind the scenes.