Former Liverpool favourite Philippe Coutinho faces massive pay cut as talks planned for next move

Former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho will reportedly hold a meeting with Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama to discuss a potential transfer.

Surplus to requirements at Aston Villa, Coutinho is thought to be eyeing a return to Vasco, having started his career with the club prior to joining Inter Milan in 2008. The 31-year-old has struggled since leaving Liverpool to join Barcelona in a club-record £142million deal in January 2018.

He scored just 26 goals from 106 appearances with the Spanish giants and later found himself joining Villa in 2022. He featured for the Villans under former boss Steven Gerrard but was loaned out to Al-Duhail the following year, after Unai Emery's arrival.

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According to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, Vasco president Pedrinho is expected to have discussions with the midfielder on Tuesday and offer him a financial proposal. Prior to the face-to-face meeting, it is said that the two parties had already been in talks over a potential three-year deal, though a loan is more likely.

However, with Coutinho being under contract at Villa Park until 2026, his agent is said to be trying to negotiate the termination of his contract. If a transfer was to materialise, the midfielder will have to take a salary reduction of a reported 70 per cent.

The report adds that Coutinho is keen to return to his homeland to fund his own institution, designed to help young people and the children in Rio de Janeiro. Vasco could also become a partner of the institution.