Philippe Coutinho: Aston Villa have ‘great opportunity’ to complete permanent deal after source reveal today – pundit
Aston Villa will be in pole position to sign Philippe Coutinho on a permanent deal at the end of the season, according to Danny Mills.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Leeds United and England defender delivered his verdict after Coutinho‘s “game-changing” performance in Villa’s 3-3 draw with Leeds.
A club source told Football Insider Steven Gerrard will not hesitate to ask the board to sanction a permanent deal for the dazzling attacker.
It is understood Villa have the option to covert his loan from Barcelona into a permanent deal for £33.7million.
They could face competition from other clubs if continues the mini-resurgence that has seen him score twice and provide two assists in three Premier League games.
But Mills has insisted being the “star” under Gerrard could sway his decision.
He told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Coutinho was a game-changer against Leeds.
“If he keeps up these numbers, that’s the hardest thing.
“The financial package, the wages and the transfer fee, I would suggest would be quite difficult.
“Yes, they want to keep him because he’s fit in immediately.
“They should have the money because of the owners and the Grealish money so that could give them an opportunity.
“Villa should have the edge. He’s happy there and is the star.
“He went to Barcelona and wasn’t the star, he went to Bayern Munich and wasn’t the star. He comes to Aston Villa and is the star.
“I think that is really important at times to these players, to feel like the main man.
“There’s a great opportunity that he will stay at Villa.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has revealed Aston Villa could rake it in as an ‘intriguing’ new TV deal talks are reported.