Report: Aston Villa ask Barcelona for time to decide on activating Coutinho option to buy
Aston Villa are asking Barcelona for more time to decide on whether they’ll try to sign Philippe Coutinho permanently, according to Sport.
The Spanish news outlet reports that Villa have an option to sign Coutinho, 29, for £33million but Newcastle are also willing to pay that amount for the Brazilian playmaker and also match the wages he currently earns at Barca.
It is understood that Barcelona need to lower their wage bill this summer and offloading Coutinho is vital.
However, Sport claims that Villa have doubts about a permanent deal for their loan star due to the finances of pulling off such a move.
Worth the money?
Coutinho has had a mixed loan spell at Aston Villa since joining the club on loan in January.
While he’s shown his talent and skill under the leadership of his former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard, the results haven’t been great.
No one can blame Coutinho for that really because at the end of the day, the flaws in this Villa side were there before he arrived.
However, he’ll no doubt be frustrated with how Villa’s results have fared in the Premier League even though his loan stint in the West Midlands has put him back on the map in terms of a potential transfer to England.
It wouldn’t be a shock if Newcastle came in for Coutinho.
Not only do they have the money but they are also showing signs of going in a very positive direction under Eddie Howe.
Gerrard has failed to find consistency at Villa Park and a lot of the big-money signings made in the last couple of years have failed to impress.
Coutinho may well take Villa’s decision out of their hands unless they make a firm move as soon as possible.
In other Aston Villa news, here are three things to watch out for when Villa play Leicester.