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Aston Villa are close to signing Philippe Coutinho on a permanent basis after reports claimed Barcelona have slashed their asking price for the Brazilian.

Coutinho has been on loan at Villa since the January transfer window. A permanent deal has always been on the cards with a fee of £34million said to be the asking price. However it has now been suggested that Villa could land him for half that figure.

If correct that would be a huge boost for Steven Gerrard and his transfer budget for next season. He is thought to have in the region of £100million and Coutinho was expected to take up a large chunk. £17million would be a snip in today’s market. Although his wages will take some accommodating.

Mundo Deportivo are reporting that Barca have cut the figure because they just want Coutinho off the wage bill. That will allow them more scope for their own signings in the summer. By slashing the figure it rules out Villa having second thoughts.

Not that Gerrard will have been having any. The Villa boss has Coutinho at the top of his wanted list. However the powers that be may have been thinking twice about the outlay. Even though they have vowed to back Gerrard in the transfer market.

Coutinho has four goals and three assists in 16 appearances for Villa. However they all came in his first eight games for the club. He has not scored since the 3-0 win over Leeds on 10th March.

But Gerrard has always been committed to signing Coutinho and will land his man. Mundo Deportivo also reported that the deal was set to be completed on Wednesday. If that is the case then it is under wraps as nothing has been announced as yet.

They claimed that Villa were just “one step” away from wrapping up the move.

Philippe Coutinho a snip at £17million

Despite the goals and assists drying up in recent weeks, Coutinho will still be a top signing. He has proven with both Liverpool and Villa that he can shine in the Premier League.

At 29 he is far from done and has the experience and quality that Gerrard is looking for as he aims to take Villa to the next level.

The Brazilian has shown his versatility this season playing as an attacking midfielder or down the left. He can score goals and create for others. No surprise then that Gerrard is keen to keep him. £34million would have been a good price, but £17million is a snip if the reports are correct.

READ MORE: Aston Villa miss out on another defender as Jeremiah St. Juste agrees Portugal transfer

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