Sources: Saudia Arabia club readies ‘huge’ offer for Aston Villa star Philippe Coutinho
A Saudi Arabian club has a strong interest in Aston Villa star Philippe Coutinho ahead of the summer, sources have told Football Insider.
The 30-year-old has an uncertain future at Villa Park after a wretched season in which he has struggled to make an impact.
It is believed that a mega-rich Saudi Arabian club is lining up “huge” contract offer to lure the Brazilian to the Middle East.
He is understood to be the top earner in the Villa squad and that makes it very difficult for them to offload him in the main summer window.
Villa could well let Coutinho go for a bargain fee in order to get him off their wage bill.
The Midlands giants converted Coutinho’s initial loan from Barcelona last season into a permanent deal last summer.
But it has proved to be poor value for money for the club.
The former Liverpool star has scored just one Premier League goal this season and made only seven Premier League starts among 22 appearances in all competitions.
He is currently out with a hamstring injury that has kept him out of Villa’s last five league fixtures.
The Brazilian’s current contract at Villa Park runs until 2026 but he could be set for an early departure this summer.
The winger has enjoyed success in the English top flight during his five year spell with Liverpool where he made 201 appearances, netting 54 goals and providing 45 assists.
Last season at Villa, Coutinho scored five goals and provided three assists in 19 Premier League appearances after arriving on loan in January.
But his stint in the English top flight has been less fruitful this time round and this season he has only featured in Unai Emery’s starting XI seven times.
In other news, Aston Villa plan to accept offer for defender.