Philippe Coutinho could rejoin Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia
Villa playmaker Philippe Coutinho has emerged as a target for Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq.
The 31-year-old was almost immediately linked with the Saudi Pro League outfit yesterday after his former team-mate and Villa boss Steven Gerrard was named their new head coach.
Coutinho, who is among Villa’s highest earners on wages of £125,000-a-week, endured something of a nightmare first full season back in the Premier League blighted by poor form and then injury.
Though Gerrard’s successor Unai Emery has been prepared to give the Brazil international a chance, Villa would consider any offers which allowed them to recoup the bulk of the £17.2million fee they paid Barcelona last summer and free up funds to be used elsewhere.
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