Leeds United are emerging as obvious favourites to recruit Liverpool defender Nat Phillips in the last days of the transfer season, as Daniel Farke plans a possible treble raid on Anfield to close the window on a high note.
The 26-year-old is one of the Reds’ longest-serving players, having joined on youth contracts from Bolton in 2016. After being forced to wait for his debut, the player finally made it in January 2020, after being recalled from a loan stint in Germany with VfB Stuttgart.
With both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez sidelined at the time, Phillips went on to make 20 appearances in all competitions that season,
rarely letting Liverpool down and earning Klopp’s plaudits in the process.Joel Matip
Speaking about the youngster at the time, Klopp referred to Phillips as a “super boy” and a player he much admires, later emphasising how much he valued everything he had done for the Reds in their moment of need.
However, as Liverpool’s injuries healed, Phillips fell down the pecking order and was eventually loaned out to Bournemouth, where he helped them win promotion under Scott Parker.Joel MatipJoel Matip
Phillips agreed to a similar transfer to Celtic last summer, but Liverpool chose to return him in order to cover for Joel Matip’s injury and to guarantee they had enough backup ahead of a vital period of the season.
However, according to the Daily Mail, Klopp’s change of heart has resulted in Phillips being made available once more, and a three-way duel between Championship sides appears to be on the cards.
Leeds lead the pursuit for Liverpool’s Nat Phillips.
According to the report, Blackburn and Cardiff are among the clubs in talks with Liverpool about signing the 26-year-old centre-half.
However, it is alleged that the Whites are leading the pursuit, thanks in part to their finances and capacity to cover a larger share of Phillips’ reported £65,000 per week contract, which has another 18 months to run.
Leeds are actively looking for central defensive recruits this month, and they have also contacted Everton about Ben Godfrey.
However, competition for the Toffees man is fierce, with TEAMtalk reporting that AC Milan is also interested in the twice-capped England man, and the versatile defender is considering a move abroad.
As a result, it is believed that Leeds are ready to turn to Phillips and have been pleased by their initial inquiries about a possible trade.
Leeds are vying for promotion back to the Premier League this season, having begun 2024 with five consecutive victories for the first time in club history, but they lack options in central defence, with midfielder Ethan Ampadu coming in for loanee Joe Rodon.
Two more Liverpool players on Leeds’ transfer radar.
Phillips isn’t the only Liverpool player Leeds is apparently interested in signing, and it’s possible that the Whites will launch a triple raid on Anfield before the window closes to shore up two other issue areas.
To that aim, Leeds are allegedly interested in Scottish right-back Calvin Ramsay, who just returned to Anfield following a loan spell at Preston. Ramsay, who joined Liverpool for £4.2 million from Aberdeen, has struggled to make an impact since being brought in to provide cover and competition for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
After falling behind another youngster in Conor Bradley in the Reds’ pecking order, Klopp is open to sending Ramsay out on loan once more, with a transfer to Leeds rumoured earlier this week.
The Whites are short on cover in that position after loaning Luke Ayling to Middlesbrough, while Djed Spence was also sent back to Tottenham after failing to make an impact.
Leeds is also thought to be waiting for Liverpool’s call to clinch a deal to capture Liverpool’s Polish attacker Mateusz Musialowski.
The 20-year-old is currently in his fourth season at Anfield, but despite scoring frequently in their Under-23s squad, he has yet to earn his first-team debut due to Liverpool’s great array of attacking quality.
With his contract set to expire in the summer, Klopp is allegedly open to the forward leaving this month, with Leeds interested in obtaining his talents if the price is right and a deal can be reached.
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