Aston Villa have agreed a deal to bring in former Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona until the end of the season.
The deal, which is subject to a medical and a work permit being granted, includes an option to buy the 29-year-old for £33m at the end of the season.
Coutinho joined Barcelona in a £142m move from Liverpool in January 2018.
However, the Brazil international has not had the expected impact and Barca are keen to lighten their wage bill.
Arsenal, Everton, Newcastle and Tottenham were also linked with a move for Coutinho.
The playmaker, who has scored 26 goals in 106 appearances for the Catalans, has 18 months to run on his Nou Camp contract, which expires at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Coutinho scored the winner in a memorable 3-2 win over Manchester City in April 2014, only to see his Liverpool side overhauled in the title race in the following weeks
His move reunites him with Villa manager Steven Gerrard, who was his captain at Liverpool.
Gerrard, who described his former team-mate as a “special footballer” on Thursday, and Coutinho were key parts of the Liverpool side that fell just short of winning the Premier League title in 2014.
Coutinho scored 54 goals in 201 appearances for Liverpool, who he joined in a £8.5m move from Inter Milan in January 2013. – BBC.
