By Kevin Phillips

24th May, 2022 | 9:00am

Emiliano Buendia set to be frozen out at Aston Villa amid 'victim' claim - pundit

Kevin Phillips has claimed Philippe Coutinho will “always start” over Emiliano Buendia after Aston Villa completed a permanent deal for the Brazil international.

The former Claret and Blue striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed Buendia has been the “victim” of his reported £38million price tag this season.

Earlier this month (12 May), Aston Villa completed a permanent move for Coutinho, 29, – with the former Liverpool man displacing Buendia, 25, since his loan arrival in January.

The Argentina international, who is under contract until June 2026, started just four of Villa’s last 14 games in the Premier League.

The former Norwich man contributed four goals and six assists in 35 top-flight appearances.

Phillips insisted the Aston Villa boss will always rely on Coutinho over Buendia in “crunch games”.

“You almost feel that Coutinho is always going to start now,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.

“Steven Gerrard has got no problems with chopping and changing that Aston Villa side. But when the crunch games come, he’s going to be relying on Coutinho every time.

“Buendia is a good player, there’s no doubt. But I think he’s been a victim of his price tag this season. He’s not quite lived up to that big fee.

“When you bring Coutinho in, with what he’s done in the game – he will understandably be first choice. It’s up to Buendia to fight his way back in.”

Coutinho, who played with Gerrard at Liverpool, scored five goals and grabbed three assists during his six-month loan spell.

Aston Villa have also completed the signing of French midfielder Boubacar Kamara from Marseille.

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