Liverpool are interested in signing Kalvin Phillips. That’s according to The Mail who claim that the Leeds United player wants to play Champions League football.
This, coupled with his performances, has reportedly put The Reds ‘on alert’.
The report also claims that a host of top Europeans clubs are after the England international. If Liverpool want Phillips, they’ll apparently have to do battle with Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and PSG.
The Mail even assert that Phillips is a “great obsession” of Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.
That sounds like it could be a tough ask for Liverpool, then.
Impressing for England
There’s no doubt that Phillips’ stock is very high. He was brilliant for Leeds last season. He then excelled for England at Euro 2020.
His performances at the tournament led to praise from all corners, including from the often difficult to please Jose Mourinho.
“He is a player that arrived last season from the Championship and of course he played the whole season in the most intense and difficult league in the world,” Mourinho told talkSPORT after England beat Croatia.
“He showed amazing personality. Rice was stable like he always is, but Phillips was more than stable.”
Should Liverpool go for him
The Yorkshireman has had his injury issues this season. But it’s testament to how good he is that Leeds have struggled so much without him.
Liverpool are in need of a midfielder having failed to replace Gini Wijnaldum last summer. As a result, it’s no surprise to see the likes of Phillips linked to The Reds.
However, he tends to operate more as a defensive-minded midfielder. Liverpool could do with someone who contributes a little more in the final-third.
The fact that he has spent around half the season out injured may also be a red flag for Jurgen Klopp.
All things told, Liverpool may be better off going full-steam-ahead of another reported target, Phillips’ England teammate Jude Bellingham.
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