Gerrard wants Coutinho to stay at Aston Villa

Philippe Coutinho is rediscovering his best form at Aston Villa, and head coach Steven Gerrard is keen to make his loan move from Barcelona into a permanent one in the summer.

The Brazilian attacking midfielder joined Villa in the January transfer window and has already played seven games, in which he managed to score three times and produce three assists.

"Phil was successful at Barcelona, but he had difficult periods as well," said Gerrard, who played alongside Coutinho at Liverpool.

"He got to the stage where he needed a change of scenery and a different movie.

"We want to be that movie for him because if we want to get to where we want to be, we need to build it around talents like Phil, because at his best he is a high-level player.

"All good teams have game-changers who the opposition are really concerned about before a ball is kicked. Phil has that status and he is giving belief to his team-mates.

"Our strikers Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings want him alongside them because he delivers on the big stage. I don't control transfer fees or wages.

"All I can do is give my opinion to [sporting director] Johan Lange, [chief executive] Christian Purslow and the owners. They are watching the games and they will make the final decision. Phil has shown what he is capable of so far."

How much would Coutinho cost?

Villa's option to buy Coutinho is set at 40 million euros, with his contract at Barcelona running until 2023.

Barcelona would be willing to cash in on the Brazil international next summer, as he has failed to live up to expectations at the Camp Nou.