Liverpool wish to sign a new defensive midfielder before the new season begins and according to Sky Sports’ Melissa Reddy, Jurgen Klopp might go after MCFC misfit Kalvin Phillips.
The Reds have already sent out Naby Keita and James Milner while Fabinho and Henderson are about to head to the Middle East. The Anfield outfit have already brought in Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai but neither of them are defensive midfielders which is why Klopp is so keen to add someone like Phillips to his squad.
Liverpool though aren’t the only ones who are interested in signing the ex-Leeds man because according to 90min, West Ham United are also keeping tabs on the England international.
The Hammers are looking at Kalvin Phillips as a direct replacement for Declan Rice who has just joined Arsenal and they believe the Man City man can be lured in with the assurance of regular game time.
Will Kalvin Phillips choose West Ham United over Liverpool?
The midfielder has hardly played for MCFC since joining from Leeds United and we don’t think Pep Guardiola views him in his future plans. Last season, he featured in only 12 Premier League games and most of these appearances were off the bench.
His contract runs out in 2028 but if an interested club offers to buy him for the right price, Man City will allow him to leave.
West Ham United won’t have any issues paying €40-45 million for the 27-year-old because they have received a massive transfer fee for Declan Rice but we doubt if Kalvin Phillips will want to play for the Hammers next season.
With the EURO 2024 coming up, Phillips will want to play regularly next season so that he can move up the pecking order in the England national team. He will get to play regularly at the London Stadium but after playing for a team like Manchester City, joining West Ham United will be a big step down for the midfielder.
He has just won a treble with MCFC so he won’t be too keen to play for a team which finished 14th in the Premier League table last time around, especially when a club like Liverpool’s interested in him.
With so many midfielders leaving, there will be very less competition at Anfield and someone like Kalvin Phillips can very easily take the place of Fabinho in central/defensive midfield.
He’s been a bench warmer the whole of last season so whichever club signs him will be taking a bit of a risk. He was a world-class performer for Leeds United a few seasons ago but if he cannot regain his past form then it will be a massive loss for the club.
