Aston Villa are desperate to offload Philippe Coutinho this summer, but the playmaker has hardly set the world alight during his loan spell at Al-Duhail.
Just over a year after arriving to Villa Park permanently from Barcelona in a £17 million move, Coutinho left Villa to sign a loan with the Qatari team in August of last year. Even though he has a contract with Villa that expires in 2026, it does not seem like he will stay under Unai Emery.
In the upcoming months, Villa is still expecting to cash in on Coutinho and permanently remove him from their payroll, but Al-Duhail is apparently covering his £125,000 weekly salary in full. Last season, the Brazilian had trouble staying healthy and made just one league start under Emery.
Having played with Lionel Messi at Barcelona, Coutinho has been linked to Inter Miami under David Beckham and a reunion with the Argentine in the Major League Soccer. He responded, “As I told you, I only think about the moment,” when asked if he would like to go to Miami with Messi. I want to play well, be healthy, enjoy football, and prepare properly. We can never predict what the future holds.
“My name is always mentioned in the newspapers, where people discuss various topics, both positive and negative. I make an effort not to look at them, and my sole priorities are having fun and performing my work effectively.
Calum Chambers, who is now again permitted to leave the club, might accompany Coutinho out the door. Emery gave Chambers two exit options—last summer and in January—but the centre back choose to stay.
Before his contract expires in 2025, Kortney Hause may depart Villa this summer after making a full recovery from his injury earlier this year. Leander Dendoncker and Morgan Sanson, meanwhile, are anticipated to depart on long-term contracts.
In a £4 million deal, OGC Nice is about to exercise their option to sign Sanson long-term. Dendoncker signed a loan with Napoli in January, and the club has the option to purchase him for about £8 million.
After his loan period expires, Nicolo Zaniolo is unlikely to remain permanently at Villa, and Clement Lenglet will be the subject of a decision. The club may choose to search elsewhere for funding even though Tyrone Mings’ injury ended the season and led to the signing of the centre back.
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