Aston Villa have agreed a deal to bring in former Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona until the end of the season.

The agreement, which is subject to the player completing a medical and receiving a work permit, also includes an option to buy and Coutinho will travel to Birmingham in the next 48 hours.

The midfielder will be reunited with Villa manager Steven Gerrard, with the pair former Liverpool teammates.

The link is understood to have been critical in Coutinho's choice, with the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle and Everton also in contact with his agents ahead of signing for Villa.