Aston Villa to rip up Philippe Coutinho contract amid Villa Park development

Dan Bardell believes that Aston Villa should terminate the contract of Philippe Coutinho this summer in a move to benefit all parties after qualifying for the Champions League.

The Villans are in negotiations to cancel his contract with two years remaining. The Brazilian signed at Villa Park on a permanent deal in the summer of 2022 after a productive six-month loan spell under Steven Gerrard.

Since then, nothing has really gone right, with just one goal for the club since Unai Emery came in as manager.

Now Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell has suggested that cutting his contract short this summer could benefit all parties.

Bardell said: “The club have got to do something. He’s not going to play for Aston Villa again.

“He’s on very high wages and unfortunately he hasn’t got the durability or the level to represent Villa where they are in the Premier League table and playing Champions League football.

“They aren’t going to get a fee for him so it’s probably sensible to come to an arrangement and rip up his contract to let him go.

“It’s a shame because I think he always tried his best and wanted to be a success at Villa but it just hasn’t happened. It is best for all parties if they just kiss goodbye to each other.“

Philippe Coutinho set for Aston Villa departure
Coutinho’s signing was met with so much excitement and not many signings have come close to the fanfare of his initial loan.

Having lost Jack Grealish earlier that summer, the Villans needed a lift and that is what they got in the diminutive Brazilian.

He got a goal and an assist on his debut against Manchester United at Villa Park on an electric night after being 2-0 down.

Coutinho was unbelievable against Leeds United in one of the best individual performances in recent memory from a Villa player.

Since his loan spell, he has failed to feature very much with injuries and a general lack of form has curtailed his time with the club.

With Villa now in the Champions League and fighting at the top end of the Premier League, there isn’t a real role for him anymore.

He looks set for a return to Brazil in a deal which suits all parties moving forward into the new season.

In other Aston Villa news, Dan Bardell urges NSWE to challenge the Premier League for ‘ludicrous rules’ after latest admission.