Liverpool have been urged to have a look at signing Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips at the end of the season.
That’s the view of pundit Tony Cascarino, who has been discussing Liverpool’s midfield issues.
The Reds have seemingly made Jude Bellingham their top target but are now backing away due to the huge asking price on his head.
Liverpool must now turn to other midfield targets and a host of names are being heavily linked with the Reds.
Kalvin Phillips hasn’t been linked but Cascarino believes that he could be the man for Liverpool.
Cascarino has told TalkSPORT that he thinks Bellingham is a ‘fantastic’ player but Liverpool need to get back to being solid in midfield.
The former Chelsea striker believes Manchester City misfit Phillips would be ideal for that role having proven himself to be a ‘fabulous’ ball-winning midfielder at Leeds United.
“I love Jude Bellingham, I think he’s a fantastic player, but I don’t think he’s necessary for Liverpool at the moment,” said Cascarino. “I think they need way more of an engine room that was similar to what they had a couple of years ago, and that is winning the ball back. They need a ball-winning engine room in there. Two midfielders who can get the ball back quickly, because I think that would make a massive change to Liverpool.”
“Jude is a fabulous talent and every club in Europe would want him, and Liverpool aren’t in that ballpark. But I don’t think he’s necessary for Liverpool. I think there are more important types of players who need to come in before that luxury. They’ve got Thiago who is a fabulous footballer, but he’s not a good defender, he doesn’t do the things that are necessary to enable Liverpool to get the ball back quickly, and I think that’s paramount for Liverpool.”
“The most important thing is to sign two players who can play, but their main job is to win the ball back – a bit like the Jordan Henderson type. I like Kalvin Phillips. He’s not been used at Man City. OK, Rodri’s performances have been extraordinary, but I think Phillips is a fabulous ball-winner – we saw him enough at Leeds to know that. I think they’ve got to go back to their first port of call – make your team as hard to beat as they were before. They were brilliant in midfield with Henderson, Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum. It’s about rebuilding the backbone of the team, for me,” he added.
Kalvin Phillips could leave Manchester City this summer
Manchester City only pounced to sign Phillips last summer having loved his performances for Leeds United.
City struck a £45million deal last summer as Phillips made an emotional Elland Road exit.
The idea was for Phillips to take the next step in his career and become a top-level star with City.
That just hasn’t happened though as Phillips hasn’t even started a single Premier League game for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Phillips has played just 102 minutes of Premier League action across seven substitute appearances for City, a major change from being a key player for Leeds.
That has sparked rumours about Phillips leaving City this summer and gaining first-team action elsewhere.
The London Evening Standard report that Phillips is one name on the radar at West Ham United as they consider life after Declan Rice.
Can we see Liverpool making a move for Phillips? Probably not; they may well have fancied him at Leeds but this disappointing season will have dented his reputation with the top clubs.
It’s also hard to see City selling a player to Liverpool given the rivalry between the clubs in recent years and if Phillips is to leave City, he may need to take a big step back rather than head to Anfield.
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