Paul Merson has suggested Aston Villa made a mistake when signing Philippe Coutinho this summer. He feels Steven Gerrard should have used the funds to fix other parts of his team.
Aston Villa negotiated a £17m fee with Barcelona to retain Coutinho in May after initialling hiring the Brazilian on loan. The Birmingham natives’ half-term deal secured in January had featured a £33m option to buy. But the Blaugrana ultimately let him leave for almost half.
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Gerrard sought to retain Coutinho after he provided five goals and three assists through 19 Premier League matches last season. Yet the 30-year-old’s goal against Manchester City on the final day ended his 10-game drought. He had also not recorded an assist since March 5.
The summer offered Coutinho a chance to rest and reset ahead of a full season back in the Premier League this term. Yet while Aston Villa and Gerrard would have hoped to see the playmaker return to the levels seen at the start of the year, his campaign has been woeful.
Coutinho is yet to score or provide a single assist this term across nine games, featuring for 505 minutes. The 69-cap Brazil international has started six of his appearances, as well. Yet SofaScore has only credited him with playing six key passes without creating a big chance.
Merson ‘didn’t get’ why Aston Villa signed Coutinho over fixing Gerrard’s squad
Coutinho has even attempted the joint-most shots by any Aston Villa player in the Premier League this season. Both he and Ollie Watkins have fashioned 15 efforts, but Coutinho has only directed six on target. Only one of the Brazilian’s shots so far has hit the woodwork.
So, with the playmaker not making the big plays Gerrard signed him to create, Merson has told Sky Sports News (15/10, 13:58) that Aston Villa were wrong to retain Coutinho. The Arsenal hero feels Villa should have focused on improving other weak areas of their squad.
“I didn’t get the signing in the first place,” Merson said. “I thought they had Buendia to start with and they’re both sort of similar players. Both like No.10s and you can’t have both in the team. I just think there was more stuff to be sorted out around the pitch.”
Aston Villa host Chelsea this Sunday having produced the second-worst offence in the top-flight entering the weekend. Only Wolverhampton Wanderers had scored fewer goals with three in nine games to Villa’s seven. Each of Villa’s goals has been from a different player.
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