Aston Villa playmaker Philippe Coutinho is nearing a departure and may return to his former club during the summer transfer window.
After his record £142 million move from Liverpool to Barcelona in January 2018, Coutinho has experienced a difficult period.
While Liverpool used the funds to acquire Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, and Fabinho, achieving success in the Champions League and Premier League, Coutinho struggled at Barcelona and spent time on loan at Bayern Munich.
He later joined Aston Villa to reunite with former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard but failed to regain his previous form, spending the 2023-24 season on loan at Al-Duhail.
Coutinho now seems to be surplus to requirements at Villa Park, despite having two years left on his contract.
Reports suggest that his contract with Unai Emery’s team might be terminated, allowing him to return to Brazil and rejoin Vasco da Gama, where he began his career and made 31 appearances.
According to Brazilian outlet Trivela, an agreement has been reached with Coutinho, pending the termination of his Villa contract.
It is also reported that Coutinho has been in Rio de Janeiro since last Friday, though Villa is somewhat reluctant after paying £17 million for him.
Interestingly, Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has been linked with purchasing Vasco da Gama, currently 13th in the Brazilian top flight.
777 Partners, who own 70% of Vasco, have had their control removed by a judge due to ongoing legal and financial issues.
FSG, looking to expand their portfolio, might be a potential suitor, especially after appointing former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards as their CEO of football.