Aston Villa playmaker Philippe Coutinho is reportedly closing in on an exit ahead of the transfer deadline as he looks set to join Qatari side Al Duhail.
It’s been a largely underwhelming stint at the club for the 31-year-old, as despite making a promising start following his initial loan move from Barcelona, it hasn’t worked out as desired since it was made permanent last summer.
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Coutinho has managed just six goals and three assists in 43 appearances for Villa, with injuries and poor form consistently proving to be problematic for him as he has struggled to establish himself in the side.
While he’s currently out with an injury setback, that doesn’t appear to be a major stumbling block for him to seal an exit, as Fabrizio Romano reports that Al Duhail are now closing in on a deal to sign the Brazilian international, with final details expected to be agreed between the two clubs on Friday.
It’s added that personal terms are already agreed with Coutinho said to have no interest in proposals from Real Betis and Besiktas, and so it remains to be seen if an agreement can be reached to end his stint at the club.
Importantly though, while the transfer window remains open in Qatar for another couple of weeks still, if Villa are to approve of an exit, it surely must happen on Friday in order to give ourselves time to bring in a replacement ahead of the transfer deadline in England.
With Emiliano Buendia injured and despite the arrivals of Nicolo Zaniolo and Moussa Diaby this summer, Unai Emery will arguably need another creative option in the final third to ensure we have enough competition and depth for what could be a gruelling campaign if we advance deep into our cup competitions.
In turn, if Coutinho’s move is agreed, it’s hoped that we have a replacement lined up to fill that void and improve the squad, with Emery revealing after our win over Hibernian on Thursday night that the door is certainly open for a new addition.
“We are always ready to do something,” he is quoted as saying by the Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell. “Joining us or leaving. “Philippe Coutinho is a possibility to leave. We also have the possibility to add someone. But the last day is difficult to get someone important to improve our squad.”
“We are always ready to do something,” he added. “To join us or some players leaving from our squad. Coutinho is a possibility to leave. If in case we can have some possibility to add someone, we’re going to be right to do it.
“We have to be alert. But the last day is difficult to get something really really important, really improving our squad.
“I am very happy with the players we have now. Very happy. The club made a big effort to complete our squad but, of course, one day to finish it and we are going to be ready.”
While that sounds as though Villa are actively looking to bring someone in to replace Coutinho, it also gives the impression that we won’t simply buy someone for the sake of it.
The Villa boss has been consistently adamant about only wanting to sign new players who significantly improve us, and so if the right target doesn’t become a realistic opportunity ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline, we’ll likely stay as we are and perhaps wait until January to make the necessary additions.
Given his injury setbacks and lack of contribution though over the past 12 months, it’s questionable as to how much we’d miss Coutinho if he were to leave, and getting his wages off the books and clearing space in the squad could ultimately be the best decision anyway despite ongoing hope that he would be able to play a key role for us.
