Yahoo News Two players face uncertain futures as NSWE consider new partnership
Aston Villa playmaker Philippe Coutinho is being touted by his former club Vasco Da Gama as Villa look to shift the player from their books once and for all. Coutinho arrived, initially on loan, to huge fanfare under Steven Gerrard, but his move - particularly since making the switch from Barcelona a permanent one a couple of summers ago - has clearly not gone as planned.
Coutinho has spent this term, having been cleared to leave the club last summer by Unai Emery, in Qatar with Al-Duhail, but he is due to report for pre-season training at Bodymoor Heath in the summer as things stand - that's unless he is able to secure a move away from Villa in the meantime.
That could potentially take Coutinho back to Vasco, where he began his career in his native Brazil. Their season has only just begun and Vasco find themselves down in 13th, having won two of their opening six matches. The campaign concludes in the winter, with a loan move and an obligation to buy being mooted from reports in Brazil.
New Vasco manager Alvaro Pacheco was recently quizzed about the prospect of Coutinho returning to the club and he said: “He is a super experienced player, with a fantastic career. If he comes, he will be very welcome by everyone.” Coutinho has two years left on his Villa deal.
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Another departure?
Leander Dendoncker is due to return to Villa this summer as expected, after a pretty disastrous loan period with Napoli in Serie A. Belgian international Dendoncker was brought to the club from Wolves during Gerrard's reign, but he was permitted to leave by Emery in January and found a new temporary home in Italy.
A change in management at Napoli, though, proved to be an issue for Dendoncker. While he was left out of the Champions League squad by Walter Mazzarri, who brought him to the club, Mazzarri's successor Francesco Calzona rarely handed him minutes; he didn't play again after February, playing just 21 minutes spanning three games. Dendoncker has another two years remaining on his deal at Villa.
New partnership?
Reports in Spain suggest that Villa are considering whether to enter into a partnership with a La Liga club as their connections around the continent and beyond continue to grow. Villa owners NSWE have Portuguese club Vitoria de Guimaraes and Spanish outfit Real Union as a part of their V Sports portfolio. Wes Edens also wants to form the 30th Major League Soccer franchise in Las Vegas after trademarking the name 'Las Vegas Villains'.
Diario De Noticias report that Villa could return to Spain, but they're looking higher up the league pyramid to form another 'strategic alliance' with a side in an arrangement from which both sides can benefit. The claims are that Osasuna, who are 11th in La Liga, could be a potential outfit.
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Ian's Wright
On his final Match of the Day appearance, Arsenal legend Ian Wright paid tribute to Emery's professionalism in the face of difficult injury issues which have plagued his squad - and how he has been able to lead Villa to the Champions League despite those constant setbacks.
Villa lost Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings at the beginning of the season, while the likes of Alex Moreno, Jacob Ramsey, Boubacar Kamara and Pau Torres are among a host of players who have been unavailable to Emery at differing stages of the season. Rather than moan, Emery has got on with it.
"I think it's been unbelievable," Wright said of Villa's season in general. "The injuries they've had, the fact that their manager hasn't complained, the signings they've made, the progress they've made. Villa...unbelievable this season."
