Liverpool are considering making a move to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips to replace Fabinho.
News has been filtering through today that the Reds are on the verge of selling Fabinho to Saudi club Al Ittihad. As a result, they’re now going to need a top-level replacement to come straight into the team.
According to The Athletic, there are four names now being evaluated by Liverpool: Romeo Lavia, Ryan Gravenberch, Sofyan Amrabat and Kalvin Phillips. Expanding on that list via his YouTube channel, journalist David Lynch said the last of the four names is a ‘left-field’ link.
“We’re also hearing from Liverpool’s side that there are other targets being considered [aside from Lavia],” he says. “Kalvin Phillips has come from left-field really, slightly surprising link. We know he’s a major talent, didn’t quite work out for him at City last season, barely got in the team. I think there were question marks over his fitness from Pep Guardiola.
“There’s a lot you can see from him as a player that you think would appeal to Liverpool. He can play in that single pivot which is what Liverpool like from their no.6. They don’t like to play with a double pivot, they prefer someone who can cope in that central position on their own.
“He’s home grown, which is a real consideration for Liverpool this summer and something they’ve got to think about. And also the fact that he would very probably jump at the chance to move to a club like Liverpool, particularly if there were some guarantees over playing time. I think he could be a really good fit for Liverpool in that position.”
Liverpool looking at Phillips
Plenty of Liverpool fans will have been surprised by today’s links to Phillips. However, for all of the reasons Lynch points out, maybe they should not have been.
The Reds were reportedly very keen to sign the 27-year-old when he left Leeds United for City last summer. However, they chose to keep their powder dry in the end.
Given the disappointing season Phillips went on to have at the Eithad, the £45m saved from not signing him looked like good business for Liverpool. The England man had a difficult time of it.
As a result, many will legitimately ask the question ‘why would Jurgen Klopp want him, then?’ Well, if he can shake off his injuries, there is a real player in Phillips.
The home-grown thing is massive for Liverpool and the former Leeds man would clearly love the move.
If they can get him to job-share with someone like a Lavia for a season, there could be plenty of upside to getting Phillips in.
It remains to be seen whether Liverpool’s interest in the England international is genuine, or a smokescreen put out by the club. But if it does end up being the City man, then as long as he’s signed alongside one more, we’d be relatively happy.
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