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Ex-Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho.

(Image: Getty Images)

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho is poised and ready to end his Aston Villa nightmare and exit the club on a permanent deal.

Reds hero Steven Gerrard, who was in charge at Villa Park between November 2021 and October 2022, signed Coutinho - initially on loan - from Barcelona in January 2022.

The Brazilian made an instant impact, scoring and grabbing an assist on his debut against Manchester United.

He found the net and assisted twice in his second home game against Leeds United and Coutinho appeared to have become an instant fans' favourite in the West Midlands.

The ex-Bayern Munich loanee ended the 2021/22 season on five goals and three assists in 19 matches for Villa.

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After impressing, Villa decided to snap-up Coutinho in a permanent deal worth £17million in May 2022.

However, Coutinho's Villa career appeared to decline from that point on.

In fact, Coutinho scored just one goal in 22 matches for Villa during the 2022/23 season.

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That summer, he decided to sign for Qatar Stars League club Al-Duhail on loan.

Coutinho had a mixed spell in the Middle East, scoring eight times and providing four assists over 23 appearances across the campaign.

The 33-year-old returned to Villa last summer before moving back to Brazil and re-signing for boyhood club Vasco da Gama on a season-long loan.

He has scored eight goals and added four assists in 44 matches since returning to Vasco da Gama.

Now, according to The Mirror, the Brazilian side want to sign him on a permanent deal.

Coutinho, who has not featured for Unai Emery's side since August 2023, has one year left on his contract at Villa but he's expected to bring his time in the West Midlands to an end.

Vasco da Gama are in the process of finalising a permanent deal for Coutinho.

While his loan did not include a buy option, all parties are confident an agreement will occur.

It's not yet ruled out that Villa could terminate Coutinho's contract to follow him to join Vasco da Gama on a free transfer.

That move would enable Villa to save significant cash over the next 12 months, as Coutinho is believed to earn in the region of £125,000 per-week.

Coutinho spent five years at Liverpool between January 2013 and January 2018, making 201 appearances and also scoring 54 goals.

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He was signed by Brendan Rodgers and ultimately left when Jurgen Klopp was in charge.

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