Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips could be on Liverpool’s list of midfield targets during the summer transfer window.
That’s the view of former footballer and Reds fan Tony Cascarino. Writing in The Times, Cascarino outlined a couple of options for Jurgen Klopp, with Phillips, mentioned alongside the likes of Declan Rice.
“The club has been strongly linked with Jude Bellingham, but I have said before that I would rather they went for Declan Rice. Liverpool is more in need of a player like Rice, who sits in front of the back four and does the ugly side of the game well,” said the pundit.
“Should Arsenal fail in their pursuit of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo this month, he would be an option again in the summer, or they could even consider Kalvin Phillips at Manchester City.”
Phillips is not a viable option for Liverpool.
Looking at this quartet of options, it’s clear which would be the least popular with fans.
Phillips isn’t a bad player by any means. When he was preparing to leave Leeds United last year, Liverpool was heavily linked with him. He’d proven himself in the Premier League and on the international stage, and he was ready to take the next step.
He eventually signed for City for around £45 million. Regardless of his qualities, that seemed steep at the time. The intervening months have only confirmed this, as Phillips struggles to establish himself in Manchester.
Three Premier League appearances is a pitiful return for such a high-priced acquisition. Phillips’ injury history should dissuade Liverpool from pursuing him.
On the other hand, the three players Cascarino mentions alongside the 27-year-old are all viable options.
Bellingham is obviously the dream signing for Liverpool and their supporters. But either Rice or Caicedo would be able alternatives to the Borussia Dortmund man.
Reds fans will hope that one will be in addition to instead of Bellingham. With Caicedo looking set to be blocked from leaving Brighton today, he should be a realistic target. Rice is another who is likely to be on the market.
So, in this list, Phillips is very much the odd one out. The city is unlikely to let the England international go as it is. But if they do, it shouldn’t be to Liverpool.
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