Leeds Utd prepare surprise Liverpool raid for forgotten star that their likeliest next manager will love
Leeds Utd are courting a Liverpool centre-half irrespective of who their next manager is, though the odds-on favourite to take the reins has tried to sign the player in question before, per a report.
The Whites will aim to assemble a squad capable of securing promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking this summer. Retaining the cream of the crop already at their disposal will no doubt be key, though the likes of Tyler Adams and Willy Gnonto are sure to attract plenty of suitors.
Leeds must also buy well to replace those who do depart. To that end, the Athletic’s Leeds expert, Phil Hay, has broken news of a potential raid on Liverpool.
Indeed, Leeds are understood to be eyeing up rarely-seen Liverpool centre-half, Nat Phillips.
The 26-year-old has made just 29 appearances across all competition for the Reds since making his first-team debut back in 2019.
The bulk of those outings came during the latter half of the 2020/21 campaign when an injury crisis ravaged Jurgen Klopp’s defensive ranks.
Since then, Phillips was loaned to Bournemouth for six months in the 21/22 season during which he played a pivotal role in helping the Cherries to win promotion to the Premier League.
A permanent move was explored, though failed to come to pass. Liverpool’s hefty £15m valuation may well have played a part in torpedoing the deal.
However, according to Hay, Leeds are spying a move for Phillips and Liverpool’s price tag has reportedly been lowered.
Hay stated Liverpool are believed to be seeking a reduced figure of £10m. If received, the Reds may well be willing to let Phillips go on a permanent basis.
It’s claimed Leeds are interested in pulling off the coup irrespective of who their next manager and sporting director are.
The west Yorkshire outfit are yet to appoint a successor to Sam Allardyce, while Victor Orta was relieved of his duties as sporting director at the beginning of May.
Regardless, a Leeds move for Phillips may mesh well with the candidate who is odds-on to take the reins at Elland Road – Daniel Farke.
The former Norwich City and Borussia Monchengladbach boss leads the way with most bookmakers and was acknowledged by Hay to be ‘among the managerial favourites’ for the vacant post.
Farke was reportedly keen on the idea of signing Phillips when in charge at Norwich.
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