Transfer insider Dean Jones thinks West Ham would need to be prepared to spend a significant amount of money if they want to sign Philippe Coutinho this summer.

Coutinho is currently on loan at Aston Villa, and has made a bright start to his time in the Midlands.

What's the latest news involving Coutinho?

The 65-cap international returned to the Premier League last month, and made an instant impact by scoring on his debut for Steven Gerrard's men against Manchester United.

He followed that up by scoring again and registering two assists in his next home game against Leeds to show that he still has plenty to offer at the highest level.

His performances have attracted attention from elsewhere, with reports in Spain claiming that West Ham are keen on signing Coutinho at the end of the season from his parent club, Barcelona.

Elanga SAVES Man United! Full reaction on The Football Terrace...

What has Jones said about West Ham potentially signing Coutinho?

Jones has admitted that he is unsure where Coutinho will end up next season. However, if West Ham follow through on their interest in the 29-year-old, he expects them to have to pay Barcelona handsomely, despite the attacking midfielder only having just over a year left on his contract at the Nou Camp.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I don’t know where I see Coutinho right now. I think West Ham will be mindful of what they’re signing in Coutinho, if they were to go down that path, because it would take a lot of money.”

Would West Ham be wise to spend heavily on Coutinho?

After leaving Liverpool in 2018, Coutinho struggled to live up to expectations at Barcelona and Bayern Munich due to a combination of injuries and loss of form.

However, he has shown at Villa that he remains a classy performer, and it is no surprise to see a European-chasing club like West Ham taking an interest in him.

However, the Hammers may be better off focusing on strengthening other areas of their team instead. David Moyes has had to largely rely on Michail Antonio leading the line this season, while his options at centre-back have also been threadbare ever since Angelo Ogbonna suffered a serious knee injury in November.

Ogbonna may need a while to settle back into the side when he does finish his rehabilitation, and he is now well into his thirties, just like fellow centre-half Craig Dawson.

Therefore, West Ham ought to be prioritising bolstering their defence and their options up front rather than spending a significant part of their transfer budget on Coutinho this summer.