Last weekend, Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard publicly expressed his desire to retain Philippe Coutinho at Villa Park beyond this season.
The attacking midfielder joined the Villans on a loan deal from Barcelona in January and the former have an option to make his stay permanent by paying €40m to the La Liga side.
On Tuesday, Mundo Deportivo reported the Catalan club are ‘about to transfer’ the player to Aston Villa for a fee of €15-20m.
Later that day, Spanish journalist Gerard Romero explained that Barca have retained a 50 percent sell-on clause in a deal for the Brazil international to join the Premier League side.
According to Catalunya Ràdio, Barcelona ‘confirm the interest’ of Aston Villa to sign the player on a permanent deal.
They further add the ‘talks are moving forward’ between the two clubs, but they are ‘yet to agree’ on the transfer fee. The two clubs are ‘negotiating to close the operation’.
Aston Villa have the buying option set at €40m, while the Blaugrana are looking to sell the South American for ‘just over €20m’.
With all parties working for Coutinho to make a permanent switch to Villa Park, it will be interesting to see at what price the two clubs will find an agreement.
