Leeds United: Liverpool could zero in on Kalvin Phillips after £853m blow
Liverpool could be set to target Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips after their pursuit of another midfielder appears to have hit the brakes.
According to SPORT, the Reds had been chasing a move for FC Barcelona’s 17-year-old midfield starlet Gavi in which they were hoping to only spend £42.7million.
But the Spanish international looks set to sign a new deal at the Nou Camp which would include a minimum release clause of £853million that would be enough to blow Liverpool out of the water.
Jurgen Klopp had previously tried to sign Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco but that move has also broken down [Sunday Mirror, 5 June, page 73] which has seen the FA Cup and Carabao Cup winners turn their attentions to Elland Road.
Kalvin Phillips is now the man Klopp wants to bring to Anfield to bolster his midfield depth with just two seasons left on his current contract at Thorp Arch, where he has been for the entirety of his professional career.
Awkward triangle
We are in a bit of a tricky situation right now because Barcelona seem to be the club that will determine our entire transfer window.
They have already quashed Liverpool’s hopes of signing one of their players and they are also trying hard to get a deal for Raphinha over the line although the two sides have not yet agreed on any deal.
We are almost stuck in limbo at the moment until the futures of either Phillips or Raphinha, ideally both, are sorted so we can properly plan for the new season whether it be with or without them.
Jesse Marsch can make all the signings he likes but if either or both of these star players leave then he needs to have a good portion of his budget left over to replace them as soon as possible.
Communications between Yorkshire and Catalonia are going to carry on for some time and this sudden intermission of Scouse is not helping an already complicated scenario.
In other Leeds United news, Whites supporters are desperate for the Brazilian to stay and they’ve found a new, inventive way to beg him to do so.