Numbers show Philippe Coutinho is in decline, Unai Emery should think about transfer away from Aston Villa
There was understandable fanfare when Philippe Coutinho originally joined Aston Villa on loan from Barcelona in January 2022.
Reunited with then Villa boss Steven Gerrard, a former team-mate at Liverpool, it seemed a great fit for the player and a club with lofty ambitions.
The initial results were impressive. Eight goal involvements (five goals and three assists) from 16 Premier League starts (19 appearances in total) were enough to earn a full-time deal for a reported £17million fee. (FBref)
But Coutinho’s star has sadly been on the wane over the past few seasons and the 2022-23 campaign did indicate a player who struggles to influence a game like he used to.
Coutinho managed just one goal and zero assists, starting just seven league games and appearing in 20 in total. Indeed, he had an expected goal rate of only 1.4 and an expected assists rate of a mere 0.5 [FBRef].
He contributed only eight key passes and zero goal-creating actions. It makes for hugely disappointing reading for a player who is in the team to create opportunities for teammates and chip in with goals.
At this juncture, with Villa about to return to European competition in the Europa Conference League, they can ill-afford passengers in the squad, let alone passengers on big money.
Coutinho was the right signing, for the right man, at the right time, but already it feels as though his influence on this ever-improving Villa squad has been hugely marginalised.
With Unai Emery about to embark on his first full pre-season and targeting a fresh assault at the top six next season, it might already be time for Villa to think about moving the Brazilian on.
In other Aston Villa news, the numbers that show where Emi Buendia needs to improve.