Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Philippe Coutinho 's situation at Aston Villa with the view to hijacking a transfer.
The 29-year-old has enjoyed a career resurgence since returning to the Premier League, having joined Villa on loan from Barcelona in the January window.
And while Steven Gerrard 's side have the option to buy Coutinho on a permanent basis at the end of the season for around £33million, the Gunners are said to be watching the situation closely.
If Villa are unable to secure the midfielder - having not yet agreed a contract - Spanish outlet Sport claim that Arsenal are waiting in the wings and ready to pounce for Coutinho, who has scored four goals and registered three assists in nine league games.
The Brazilian's impact has convinced Gerrard to give his club the green light to sign his former Liverpool teammate, although it is unlikely that Villa would be able to afforded eye-watering wages similar to those in Coutinho's deal at Barcelona.
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Arsenal were linked with signing the playmaker in January but he ultimately ended up in Birmingham.
Since then, Coutinho's form has seen Villa sail away from the relegation battle in their new era under Gerrard, who was appointed in November following Dean Smith 's sacking.
And the Liverpool legend is desperate to have the Brazil international at Villa Park permanently, having spent two-and-a-half years together on Merseyside before Gerrard retired in 2015.
"When he's comfortable, he's happy and he's enjoying his football we all know we're dealing with a world-class talent," Gerrard recently told a new conference when asked about Coutinho's future.
"For me, it doesn't make sense to make any decisions now or say anything else on this, we just need to keep enjoying him and keep him healthy from now until the end of the season."
In a separate interview, he shed light on how a decision would be made by saying: "I don't control transfer fees or wages.
"All I can do is give my opinion to (sporting director) Johan Lange, (chief executive) Christian Purslow and the owners. They are watching the games and they will make the final decision. Phil has shown what he is capable of so far."
Gerrard added: "Phil was successful at Barcelona but he had difficult periods as well. He got to the stage where he needed a change of scenery and a different movie.
"We want to be that movie for him because if we want to get to where we want to be, we need to build it around talents like Phil, because at his best he is a high-level player.
"All good teams have game-changers who the opposition are really concerned about before a ball is kicked. Phil has that status and he is giving belief to his team-mates.
"Our strikers Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings want him alongside them because he delivers on the big stage."
But with no decision made, it could be Arsenal's strikers profiting next term.
