Aston Villa have reportedly agreed a deal with Barcelona for the permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho.
When Villa pushed through a loan agreement for the Brazil international in January, it also came with the option of signing the playmaker for £33m.
However, with the Premier League outfit currently against meeting that figure and Barcelona increasingly desperate to get Coutinho off their books, the relevant parties were left to reach a compromise.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Villa have now finalised fresh terms with Barcelona and will soon announce that they have signed the 29-year-old on a full-time basis.
Despite Newcastle United said to be waiting in the wings, Romano says that Coutinho wanting to play under Villa boss and former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard was key to getting a deal over the line.
Coutinho has made 14 starts and two substitute appearances for Villa since his arrival at the start of 2022, contributing a total of four goals and three assists.
Darren Plant
