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Leeds United: 49ers Enterprises handed boost to complete Nat Phillips transfer as Liverpool exit twist emerges
Leeds United’s interest in bit-part Liverpool defender Nat Phillips has been well documented and the 49ers have now been given a boost in their bid to make him their first key signing this summer.
Phillips made only five appearances for the Reds last season but has Championship experience which the Whites are searching for this summer, having helped Bournemouth to Premier League promotion in the 2021/22 campaign.
The Athletic journalist Phil Hay reported on 27 June that Leeds want to sign the 26-year-old irrespective of their head coach and sporting director appointments with new manager Daniel Farke a former admirer of Phillips.
The report also claims that Liverpool are willing sellers at around £10m, who is under contract at Anfield until 2025.
However, in an exciting new twist for Farke, and the prospective new full Leeds owners, it is believed that Liverpool may now have to lower that asking price to allow Phillips his wish to leave, according to the Liverpool Echo (13 July).
They wrote that “after flirting with a departure for several transfer windows, Phillips is expected to leave on a permanent deal.”
“Championship side Leeds United and Dutch outfit Feyenoord are interested although the Reds may have to lower their £10million asking price.”
Liverpool certainly have a packed defence in their weaponry right now, with Virgil Van Dijk, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate all available to manager Jurgen Klopp, and it’s been reported that the Reds are eyeing another young option this summer.
Unfortunately for Phillips, his top displays when called upon by Klopp have not been rewarded at Anfield, and a summer exit certainly makes sense at this stage in his career.
Leeds United are set to lose several of their key first-team stars next season, especially at centre-back with Diego Llorente and Robin Koch already out of the Thorp Arch exit door, and right-back Rasmus Kristensen who has filled in at centre-back also now almost completing his loan move to AS Roma (Di Marzio, 13 July).
The Whites have already been busy securing a move for Aberdeen youngster Lewis Pirie but several more signing s are expected through the club doors to ensure the team is well-prepared for the season ahead.
Farke will be in desperate need of a centre-back addition over the coming weeks, and Phillips certainly fits the bill. With the Whites desperate for an immediate English top-flight return, they will need players who have the experience to achieve it and the 26-year-old is the perfect candidate to bolster a potentially depleted Leeds squad.
Phillips will be awfully keen for a new challenge and regular minutes on the pitch, and that would definitely arrive at Elland Road.
He would have a key role to play under Daniel Farke in the club’s search for an immediate promotion back to the Premier League. And this latest development from Anfield should now mean the 49ers could be well close to finally completing their first signing of the summer.
In other Leeds United news, one Whites player has been given extra holiday time amid a Thorp Arch update.