26-YEAR-OLD LIVERPOOL PLAYER AGREED ON TERMS TO JOIN LEEDS UNITED

Leeds United are said to have agreed personal terms with Nat Phillips as they target the Liverpool defender.

Nat Phillips is a prime target for Leeds United this summer and a report suggests personal terms have been agreed.

This reports Last Word on Sports, which says Leeds have reached a preliminary agreement with Phillips.

If true, the next job is to finalize a fee with Liverpool and try to bring Phillips to Elland Road.

Leeds are inching closer to signing Ethan Ampadu, who can operate as both a central defender and defensive midfielder. However, we expect him to play the latter role and with Robin Koch’s move to Eintracht Frankfurt, Leeds need another centre-back.

Phillips appears to be the primary target and if his reps agree on personal terms, that would be a big step in the right direction.

Athletic reported on Leeds’ interest in Phillips in June and hinted that Liverpool were aiming for around £10million.

It would be a big outlay for Leeds, especially with Ampadu costing at least £7million, but new boss Daniel Farke needs to be backed up with signings.

Daniel Farke would surely support Nat Phillips move

The Athletic report also added that Farke was looking to sign Phillips during his tenure as Norwich City manager. That move never happened, but Farke would finally get the chance to work with Phillips in Leeds.

The whites want to return to the Premier League and a no-nonsense defender like Phillips could be ideal.

The 26-year-old was promoted from Championship side Bournemouth in 2022 and Leeds are hoping to see him do the same at Elland Road.

Phillips may not be flashy, but he’s performed admirably in recent years when he’s been called up to Liverpool.

A 6-foot 3-inch centre-back with great airpower and a desire to block and clear anything in his path, Phillips could help Leeds build a winning defensive line under Farke.

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LIVERPOOL WILL “COMPETE FOR TITLE,” SAYS STEVIE NICOL If the five-man transfer agreement is approved

Stevie Nicol still expects Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to contest the Premier League title next season, although he will lose veteran duo Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia, as well as bringing in three new faces.

The Anfield legend was asked what the “realistic expectations” are for Liverpool next season, whether they “replace the whole of midfield” and whether Jordan Henderson and Fabinho will leave.

Now, two players, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, have already entered, so one can imagine that another big name will join as the aforementioned duo complete a potential five-man transfer deal.

While Klopp’s midfield will undergo massive and perhaps unplanned changes as a result, the exceptions remain the same for Nicol, as he told ESPN.

As Manchester City are aiming for a fourth consecutive Premier League title, the last team to win the title outside of Treble winners have been Liverpool themselves, and have gone over 90 points on other occasions but been overwhelmed by the incredible power that Pep Guardiola has built upon. Can those at Anfield go down that road again next season? Nicole thinks so.

“They’re fighting for the title,” Nicol said of Liverpool’s expectations for next season, when they replace the entire midfield following the possible exits of Fabinho and Henderson.

“Simple and clear. If you sign three quality players in this way, you add them to the striker and you have to expect the defense to not concede another 50 goals. Then you have to compete.”

Will Liverpool push for the Europa League?
The Reds have reached three Champions League finals under Klopp, including one against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid.

But now that they’re in the Europa League it will be interesting to see how they balance that competition versus the Premier League.

Many will argue that the Premier League is much more important than the Europa League, so in the end, will Klopp throw his best players into the marathon because they can’t afford to lose the Champions League again?

Yes, winning the Europa League will get you there too, but aiming for the title must be the main goal.