Philippe Coutinho will leave Aston Villa, £70m replacement Pedro Goncalves has ‘X-factor’ – BBC pundit
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Philippe Coutinho “will leave” Aston Villa in the summer transfer window and Sporting CP star Pedro Goncalves is a potential replacement, according to Alan Hutton.
Coutinho, 30, enjoyed a good spell of form on loan at Villa Park for the second half of last season but since his move from Barcelona was made permanent, he’s failed to hit similar heights and has started just seven Premier League matches this season.
Goncalves, 24, has enjoyed an incredible season with Sporting, scoring 18 goals and supplying 12 assists in 43 appearances across all competitions, leading him to be linked with a summer move to Villa.
Portuguese newspaper Record reported via their print edition on 20 March (page 17) that Aston Villa are ready to move for the Portugal international in the summer but he currently has a £70million release clause in his contract at Sporting.
Hutton believes that Goncalves, a versatile attack who can play on the left or in the middle of the park, would be a good addition to Unai Emery’s overhaul and a potential replacement for struggling Coutinho.
“These are players the manager will know well, someone who’d give you that X-factor or something special,” Hutton told Villa News.
“Coutinho will leave. He’s on high wages and for me, it’s not worked out.
“Steven Gerrard took a big risk bringing him back to England thinking he could get the best out of him after he didn’t hit the heights at Barcelona.
“He might move on and I think Unai Emery will ultimately want to put his stamp on the team.
“It’s going to take two or three transfer windows to get the players in that he wants who’ll suit his formation.
“I think he’ll be looking at every position in the summer and thinking if there’s someone who can come in to improve the team.”
Goncalves scored to help knock Premier League leaders Arsenal out of the Europa League last month while he also assisted a goal against Tottenham in the group stages of the Champions League.
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