Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has termed Barcelona manager Philippe Coutinho a special player as the Premier League side continues to mount their interest in the Camp Nou outcast.

Coutinho is a subject of interest from Aston Villa, who is managed by the man he played together with between 2013 and 2015 when the Englishman was the skipper of the Reds.

Apparently, the former Glasgow Rangers manager stated that he has big respect for the player, albeit he didn’t reveal too much as to the level of interest the Villa Park side has in the player.

“He is someone I’ve got an incredible amount of respect for, but I don’t want to add to speculation because he belongs to Barcelona, I don’t think you get a nickname of ‘The Magician’ if you’re not a special footballer. I’ve got nothing but positive things to say about the player.” Gerrard said.

Coutinho joined Liverpool from Italian side Inter Milan in the January transfer window of 2013, but Gerrard moved to the MLS with LA Galaxy two years later as both players were on the same Liverpool team for two and a half years.

However, despite shining in Liverpool colours, a £142m move to Barcelona in 2018 has not turned out well for the Brazilian.

The 29-year-old is also on the radar of Arsenal, Everton, Newcastle, and Tottenham.

He has two La Liga titles and two Copa del Reys at Barcelona, having also played sixty-three times. Coutinho has played a dozen times in the La Liga this season, the same number of times he featured last season in the competition.

Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard started his managerial career with Glasgow Rangers in Scotland, winning the Scottish League before replacing Dean Smith at the Villa Park last November.

Aston Villa has experienced a positive turn of fortune since the appointment of former England and Liverpool skipper.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu