Aston Villa in ‘negotiations’ to sign former Liverpool star

Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho has long been linked with a return to the Premier League after his stellar spell with Liverpool.

The Brazilian played alongside Steven Gerrard in the Reds’ team up until the Aston Villa boss joined LA Galaxy in 2015.

The former England international is now reportedly in talks with Barcelona to ignite a reunion with his former teammate during the January transfer window, according to Helena Condis Edo.

Barcelona bought Coutinho for a staggering £142 million in 2018, but the midfielder has struggled for form since his big money move.

The Catalan giants are desperate to raise funds in order to make signings this month and could be willing to sell Coutinho on the cheap, though Villa are thought to be keen on a loan move this month.

However, even if Barcelona are willing to part ways with the player, his £138k p/w salary may be a slight stumbling block for the West Midlands club.

Villa will also face competition from the Reds and their Merseyside rivals, Everton.

A return to the Premier League is likely for Coutinho, but it is unclear whether the 29-year-old would opt for a return to Liverpool or a reunion with his former captain.

However, it is the Villans that are the first to make an official approach for the Brazil international and are now negotiating a loan deal with the Spaniards until the end of the season.