Vasco da Gama CEO Luiz Mello has spoken about the possible signing of Philippe Coutinho.

The attacking midfielder, who is on the periphery of the Aston Villa team, is likely to leave the Premier League club in the summer.

Mello was at a press conference this week, where he was asked about the Brazil international returning to the club where he emerged as a youth team player in the mid-2000s.

The playmaker has started just once under Emery, since the former Villarreal manager took over from Steven Gerrard back in November. Coutinho is currently nursing an injury and has missed each of Villa's last seven games, where Villa have shot up the league table after winning six in that period.

As relayed by O Dia, Mello said of Coutinho: "We never created the expectation of bringing a specific player.

"If Philippe Coutinho is willing, available and fulfills all the requirements, he would be very welcome. It is much more on his part to want to return than for us to bring him, just like Alex Teixeira [who returned in 2022]."

On trying to find a no.10 for his team, Mello explained: "A No.10 is not easy. Few clubs in Brazil have it. Therefore, you have several ways of playing. A midfielder can play inside or outside. But we will be attentive. We have a very competitive squad."