Barcelona outcast Philippe Coutinho is reportedly primed to return to the Premier League this month by joining Aston Villa on a short-term loan deal.
According to reputed Spanish journalist Matteo Moretto, Philippe Coutinho is edging closer to leaving Barcelona in the ongoing transfer window, albeit temporarily so. The out-of-favour Brazilian playmaker is poised to join Aston Villa on a loan deal for the remainder of the season.
Philippe Coutinho has endured a sharp decline in stature since joining Barcelona from Liverpool in January 2018. While the 29-year-old was impressive in the first six months of his stint with the club, his stock has been waning ever since, as he has been extremely inconsistent.
The Brazilian international has reached his lowest ebb as a Barcelona player this season, as he has fallen to the very bottom of the pecking order. As a result, Coutinho has garnered only 608 minutes of game-time, scoring two goals in the process. However, despite blowing hot and cold at Barcelona, the player has no shortage of suitors, with Aston Villa the latest club to show interest in him.
As per Matteo Moretto, the Villans have not only joined the race to sign Coutinho in the January transfer window but have leapt to the front of the queue. According to the Spanish journalist’s claims, Barcelona and Aston Villa are in advanced talks over a possible loan deal for the remainder of the season.
With that, it appears Coutinho is closing in on returning to the Premier League by joining Aston Villa on a short-term loan deal. And the interest from the Midlands outfit does make sense, despite the 29-year-old playmaker’s inconsistencies at Barcelona.
In the final third, the Villans have been bereft of creativity as Emiliano Buendia has failed to make his mark since arriving from Norwich City last summer. As a result, several creative midfielders and attackers, including Dwight McNeil, have recently been linked with Aston Villa, with Coutinho also a viable target.
So, while the Barcelona outcast has been linked with several other Premier League clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Arsenal, his next destination appears to be Aston Villa. It remains to be seen if the Villa can secure Coutinho’s services on a loan deal for the remainder of the season, thereby reuniting the Barcelona playmaker with Steven Gerrard.
