Fabrizio Romano has tweeted a major Aston Villa transfer update, asserting that the loan signing of Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona is a ‘done deal’.
The Villans have been heavily linked with a high-profile swoop for the out-of-favour Barca attacker in recent weeks and now it looks like confirmation is nearing.
UPDATE: The loan signing of Coutinho has now been confirmed by Villa.
Mundo Deportivo reported on Thursday that a move from the Camp Nou to Villa Park could be completed within 48 hours and then Beteve reported that the Brazil international was already looking for a house in Birmingham.
Romano drops Aston Villa transfer update
On Friday morning, Samuel Marsden of ESPN and Sport claimed on Twitter that an announcement was imminent and now the deal has got the ‘Here we go’ treatment from transfer guru Romano.
He asserts that negotiations are complete and that Villa have committed to paying the bulk of Coutinho’s rumoured £145k-a-week wages.
‘Philippe Coutinho’s set to join Aston Villa on loan from Barcelona, done deal and here-we-go!’ he tweeted. ‘Agreement completed after direct contact today morning.’
‘Loan until end of the season. Aston Villa will pay main part of the salary. Announcement today as per @tjuanmarti (Toni Juanmarti).’
Major coup for Gerrard
It looks like Steven Gerrard is set to link up with his former Liverpool teammate again and Villa fans will surely be delighted.
Coutinho hasn’t quite managed to deliver in Catalunya since making his £142m switch from Merseyside in 2018.
However, he’s still scored 25 goals and notched 14 assists in 106 appearances and aged 29, he’s far from over the hill.
The Brazilian maestro lit up the Premier League first time around and Gerrard has a better chance than most managers of helping him to rediscover that kind of form.
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