Earlier on Friday, Aston Villa announced they have signed Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona and the deal, subjected to work permit and medical, includes an option to buy.
The 29-year-old is the top earner at the Camp Nou and after being told he’s not included in Xavi Hernández’s plans this season, the attacking midfielder and his agent were looking for a new club.
Their search came to an end today and Barca were delighted to sanction his temporary transfer because it was necessary for them to get [at least most of] his salary off the wage bill, to register new signing Ferran Torres.
According to journalist Gerard Romero, the Premier League side will pay ‘65% of the player’s wages’, during his time in Birmingham.
Meanwhile, another journalist, Marta Ramon Gorina told RAC1 that the option to buy the Brazilian is set at €40m. This is further backed by Catalan newspaper Sport.
With various sources stating the fee to make Coutinho’s stay permanent is €40m, it remains to be seen whether he can convince both Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa until the end of this term.
