Aston Villa ready to cancel Philippe Coutinho’s contract some 654 DAYS after ex-Barcelona star last played for them

ASTON VILLA are ready to cancel Philippe Coutinho’s contract some 654 days after he last played for them.

The playmaker, 32, is currently on loan at Brazilian side Vasco da Gama, where he’s scored eight times in 43 outings.

Aston Villa are trying to terminate Philippe Coutinho’s monster contractGetty

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He has spent the last year on loan with Brazilian side Vasco de Gama[/caption]

Coutinho, who also spent last season on loan at Qatari side Al-Duhail, has not played for Villa since the start of the 2023/24 campaign — exactly 654 days ago.

But he still has a year remaining on his lucrative £125,000-a-week contract, which Coutinho signed in 2022 after making his shock Barcelona loan permanent for £17million.

And the Athletic claims Villa chiefs have now made it a priority to get his high wages off their books ahead of another summer splurge.

Coutinho hit the ground running when he moved to Villa Park on loan in January 2022, scoring five goals in 19 games under Steven Gerard.

But standards slipped after his move became permanent, with the ex-Liverpool and Bayern Munich star netting just once in the following 24 outings.

And Coutinho now looks set to become a free agent if Villa can agree a deal to terminate his contract this month.

He’s not the only potential outgoing as Unai Emery’s men look to balance the books.

Emi Martinez, Lucas Digne and Leon Bailey could be sold for the right price, with Emi Buendia, Leander Dendocker, Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior up for grabs.

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There is also interest in Ollie Watkins, Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers, but Villa are desperate to keep all three.

Emery is preparing for several incomings too.

Marco Asensio’s loan from Paris Saint-Germain could be made permanent.

While Villa are huge fans of Southampton winger Tyler Dibling.