As reported by Fernando Polo of Mundo Deportivo, Aston Villa are close to signing Philippe Coutinho from FC Barcelona.
The Brazilian is currently on loan at Villa until the end of the season and the English club had a non-mandatory option to buy the playmaker for €40 million. Barça are however about to sell Coutinho to Villa for a fee in the region of €15-20 million.
Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has publicly called for Coutinho and despite his failure to score or provide assists in recent games, he has insisted on signing the 29-year-old. His club have listened to him and are very close to agreeing a deal with Barça to bring him to Villa Park.
Barça loaned Coutinho to Aston Villa on 7 January.
