Gerrard signing already wants to leave Aston Villa after just 7 months

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Philippe Coutinho ‘wants to leave’ Aston Villa and return to Brazil only seven months after joining the Premier League outfit in a £17 million deal from Barcelona, according to Goal. 

With Unai Emery looking to drag Villa up the table and away from the dreaded drop zone, this is a distraction the Spaniard could have done without.  

It’s not even a year since Coutinho arrived in the Midlands, on an initial loan deal. But, with a bright start petering out, this rather awkward marriage could already be about to end in a messy divorce.

Philippe Coutinho wants to leave Aston Villa with a return to Brazil in the pipeline

Coutinho, Goal say, has his heart set on a return to Brazil. Securing a move back to South America, however, is easier said than done. Per Spotrac, Coutinho is one of Villa’s highest earners, taking home a rumoured £125,000-a-week. Even the biggest clubs in Brazil cannot dream of matching those wages.  

Corinthians are keen. They also have a good relationship with Kia Joorabchian, Coutinho’s representative.£125,000-a-week, however, is likely to be well beyond what Corinthians are capable of offering. 

What’s more, Aston Villa splashed out £17 million on Coutinho only seven months ago, triggering the purchase option in the former Liverpool star’s contract.  

The 1982 European Champions will understandably be reluctant to cut their losses so soon; Coluna do Fla reporting that Aston Villa have little interest in letting Coutinho go on loan. Only permanent bids will be considered. It’s hard to imagine, however, that any club in Brazil would be able – or willing – to put together a package that would allow Aston Villa to recoup the majority of their £17 million investment. 

Coutinho, in 13 games, has neither scored a goal nor set one up in 2022/23. A hamstring injury has kept him out of Emery’s plans so far. And, when he returns, Coutinho is likely to find a rejuvenated Leon Bailey ahead of him in the pecking order.

“A shadow of a player we know he is,” Jamie Carragher told Sky after another forgettable Coutinho performance in October. “It did not go well at Barcelona. He is a million miles off it.”