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Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips wouldn’t turn down the chance to join Manchester United, according to former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor.

The Lowdown: Phillips’ future unclear

The 26-year-old is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury but that doesn’t stop talk surrounding his future from doing the rounds.

Phillips’ current Leeds deal expires in the summer of 2024 but there has been little hint of him extending his stay at the club he has been at since 2010.

Instead, the England midfielder has been linked with a move away from Elland Road a number of times, suggesting his future could lie elsewhere.

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The Latest: Pundit says Man United move could happen

Phillips has been tipped to join Leeds’ rivals in a controversial move, and speaking to Football Insider, Agbonlahor said he believes a deal could happen:

“Phillips will go wherever is good for him and wherever is good for his career. Those rivalries are silly. I know Leeds and Man United have history but it’s not like it’s Leeds and Bradford or Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

“It’s not enough to stop him from playing Champions League football and playing at a big club like Manchester United.

“I’m 100 per cent sure he would still make that move if an offer is accepted. It’s not a rivalry that I think should stop a player from making the move. Eric Cantona did it, so I don’t think it will stop a player from moving.”

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The Verdict: Would be controversial

Phillips is adored by Whites supporters and it would take a lot to change that, even if he did decide that a move away next summer makes sense.

Moving to Old Trafford would test fans’ resolve, however, given the rivalry between the two clubs, so the hope is that the midfielder would realise that and go elsewhere.

Alan Smith traded Leeds for the Red Devils back in 2004, though, having been loved in a similar way to Phillips, so it would be naive to rule out the same thing happening again.

The ideal scenario is that Phillips stays put for many years but it would be hard to begrudge him a transfer to a Champions League-playing club, considering he is England’s current Player of the Year.

In other news, a journalist has backed Leeds to make a move for one Premier League player. Find out who it is here.

Donny van de Beek is undergoing a medical at Everton ahead of his loan move from Manchester United, Sky Sports News have revealed.

The lowdown

It emerged on Sunday that Van de Beek had opted to join The Toffees for the remainder of the 2021/22 season.

Crystal Palace were also interested in the Dutchman, but he’ll instead take up the opportunity to work under Frank Lampard on Merseyside.

Everton have agreed to foot the entirety of his £120,000-per-week salary for the duration of the loan period.

The £22.5million-rated midfielder has only played 380 minutes in all competitions this season and is yet to start a Premier League game.

The latest

Referring to Sky Sports’ ‘State of Play’ transfer tacker, presenter Tom White said Van de Beek’s move was now a step closer to completion.

“Everton are close to signing him on loan after agreeing a deal with Manchester United,” he said.

“It [the transfer tacker] says ‘in talks’. In the last few seconds, that has changed because [he’s having a] medical now.

“That has just come into us in the last few seconds, a fresh update to us.”

The verdict

Completing the signing of Van de Beek would make it a very solid January for Everton.

They’ve found a long-term successor for Seamus Coleman in the form of Nathan Patterson, and also moved quickly to replace Lucas Digne with the signing of another youngster, Vitaliy Mykolenko.

Anwar El-Ghazi, on loan from Aston Villa, adds depth to the squad, and Van de Beek, billed ‘close to perfect’ by BT Sport’s Owen Hargreaves, should inject real quality.

In other news, fans were buzzing over this news on a defender. 

Jurgen Klopp has been handed a big injury boost at Liverpool as Nathaniel Phillips was set to make his return against Manchester United on Sunday before the game was called off due to protestors at Old Trafford.

The centre-back was forced to sit out recent games against Leeds United and Newcastle United due to a hamstring issue and was a doubt for Sunday’s game against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

However, Phillips was set to start alongside Ozan Kabak in central defence at Old Trafford, with Fabinho moving back into a midfield position.

Although the game was postponed, it is still great news for Klopp to have Phillips back available, especially after he and Kabak formed a formidable partnership earlier in the season.

The 24-year-old, who reportedly earns £64k per week at Liverpool, has proven himself to be an excellent option for the German manager to have this season, capitalising on the long-term injuries suffered by Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip to establish himself as a first-team regular at Anfield.

After spending last season on loan at VFB Stuggart in the Bundesliga 2, it seemed as if the young defender had no real future with Liverpool, especially after Klopp confirmed earlier in the season that he was close to leaving last summer due to interest from Championship clubs.

However, he impressed on his Premier League debut against West Ham, with Klopp full of praise for his performance, saying:

“He’s a brilliant guy, smart guy, intelligent, everything. He’s not easy on the eye, he’s not Messi but who cares? In the air, he’s a monster! He was incredible.”

Phillips hasn’t looked back since then and has gone on to make 12 appearances in the top-flight this season, averaging an impressive 7.09 rating for his performances, so it is definitely a boost that he is back fit for the remaining fixtures.

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In fact, the Bolton-born defender has achieved somewhat star status at Liverpool, with his old-school style of play making him somewhat of a cult-hero with the fans.

Furthermore, as explained by David Lynch, Liverpool have only won one of nine games since January with Fabinho at centre-back, whereas they’ve won four of six with him in midfield and had that trend continued in the next few games, Liverpool’s chances of Champions League qualification would have been dead,

So, Phillips’ return will allow Fabinho to return to his natural defensive midfield position, and if he and Kabak can pick up where they left off, then the Reds have a great chance of finishing strongly and earning a Champions League spot for next year.

It’s a perfect illustration of how The Reds’ campaign has gone so far that the return of a player who was very, very close to moving to the Championship is now being seen as a man who is needed to help salvage something from what has been a rotten season.

And, in other news… Liverpool handed huge Salah blow ahead of 2021/22, Klopp surely fuming

Liverpool have been linked with an audacious move for France and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe this summer.

The Lowdown: Mbappe on the move?

The 23-year-old is undoubtedly one of the world’s best players at the moment, continuing to wreak havoc for PSG and registering 36 goal contributions (22 goals and 14 assists) in 29 Ligue 1 starts this season.

Mbappe’s future continues to be one of football’s biggest talking points, with a summer move to Real Madrid widely mooted while his contract ticks down towards its expiry in the summer.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for the Frenchman in the past and now a surprise rumour has emerged.

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The Latest: Liverpool back in the hunt

According to Get French Football News on Twitter, the Reds now look like possible front-runners to sign Mbappe this summer:

“His new suitor is likely to be Liverpool.”

PSG and France midfielder Jérôme Rothen has apparently been given new information that a different club has entered the race and may have a ‘new factor’, with Liverpool named as the mystery club due to the player’s personal appreciation for Jurgen Klopp.

The Verdict: Only if Salah leaves?

While the idea of seeing Mbappe in a Liverpool shirt is beyond mouthwatering, it is almost impossible to see a move happening this summer – unless one thing happens.

The wages that he would demand would surely be deemed too astronomical by FSG, while the the current options at Klopp’s disposal are already great.

The only way a move could seem possible is if Mohamed Salah leaves the club, perhaps to PSG, with Mbappe heading the other way. FSG would surely be more willing to pay the big wages Salah wants to a much younger player called ‘the best player in European football’ and ‘unstoppable’ by Carlo Ancelotti.

In other news, a journalist has dropped a key Liverpool contract claim. Read more here.

Reports by The Telegraph earlier this week claimed that Newcastle United are keeping close tabs on Kyle Bartley’s situation at West Bromwich Albion.

However, the Magpies moving to sign Bartley at the end of the season smacks of Mike Ashley planning for relegation to the Championship.

The centre-back will enter the final 12 months of his £13,500-per-week contract in June and could be made available for the right price.

Bartley is expected to be among the players of interest for rival clubs in the off-season should West Brom fail to remain in the Premier League, with the Baggies facing a 10-point deficit to Newcastle in 17th.

The Toon are understood to be in the market for a new central defender this summer and could swoop for Bartley, but may face competition from Burnley. Sean Dyche’s Clarets are also monitoring the 29-year-old as the Turf Moor natives look to bring in cover for James Tarkowski and Ben Mee.

Newcastle currently have four natural centre-backs in the first team fold in Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar, Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernandez – plus the versatile Paul Dummett – but Schar and Fernandez are both set to be free agents this summer.

Steve Bruce revealed last month that talks were “ongoing” with Fernandez over a new deal, while Schar could snub a one-year extension to his £40k-per-week terms.

Newcastle losing one of or both Schar and Fernandez at the end of the season would force the St James’ Park natives to explore signing replacements, but the benefits of a move to land Bartley would be questionable.

Bartley has rarely proven to be a Premier League calibre defender over his six seasons in the division, with the current campaign his only one to feature double-digit appearances.

The £2.5m-rated enforcer has started 19 of his 21 league outings for the Baggies thus far this term, accounting for half of his career haul of 42 top-flight appearances after earning an average of 4.2 a season over five campaigns with Swansea City between 2012 and 2018.

Bartley was a key factor behind West Brom securing promotion from the Championship as runners-up to Leeds United last season, with 37 starts in 38 appearances from a possible 46 in the division, but his performances have often stayed at that level.

While improvements have come since Sam Allardyce was appointed in December, issues have remained in Bartley’s game which could raise alarm bells at Newcastle if Bruce is able to keep the Magpies in the top-flight.

“His weaknesses, I would say, lie in his positioning, which has occasionally been called into question,” Birmingham Live’s Baggies reporter Joseph Chapman told Lancs Live. “Sometimes this season he’s been caught out and, as is often the case at this level, it results in a goal. But even that’s improved since Sam arrived.

“Bartley has another year left on his deal with Albion. He’s not immediately a player you think of attracting top-flight interest when you consider that they have the likes of [Sam] Johnstone and Matheus Pereira, who will almost certainly have suitors.

“I think he is someone who, if you asked the average Albion fan on the street, would be content with him continuing in the starting XI in the Championship, which is highly likely where Albion will be.”

Chapman’s remarks would hardly instil much confidence in Bartley being a worthwhile pickup for Newcastle in the off-season as a Premier League side, but rather a move by Ashley to prepare the Toon for life in the Championship.

AND in other news, Newcastle have landed a huge boost ahead of facing Tottenham…

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to fix their defensive issues in this transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano in The Guardian, Spurs have ramped up talks with Nuno Espirito Santo over their vacant manager’s role and will then target Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde ahead of the new campaign.

The 22-year-old is currently at Euro 2020 with France and is expected to be sold for less than his €80m (£68m) release clause.

Newly-appointed sporting director Fabio Paratici is said to admire the former Wolves boss, who was not previously under consideration by the north London club, and he now seems like the frontrunner for the job.

The perfect solution?

Whoever is appointed, whether that is the Portuguese coach or someone else, they will be walking into quite the mess in N17. Spurs recorded their lowest finish in the Premier League in over a decade and missed out on yet another trophy following defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.

There’s also the future of star striker Harry Kane to consider as he expressed his desire to leave the club this summer.

One of the biggest issues Spurs faced throughout the tumultuous 2020/21 campaign was at the back, where a combination of individual mistakes and a lack of cohesion led to them having one of the worst defensive records in the top eight.

It was so bad that Jose Mourinho used more than 16 different combinations at the back, whilst the players at his disposal were regularly lambasted.

For example, the pairing of Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier was deemed one of the worst in the Premier League by former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara, whilst Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher dubbed Serge Aurier the “biggest liability” in the English top-flight.

Truth be told, Spurs never replaced the presence of Jan Vertonghen, who left for Benfica following the expiry of his contract llast year, and Joe Rodon’s arrival was surely with the future in mind.

Kounde may only be 22 but he has quickly emerged as a defensive star – that much is already known as he made Didier Deschamps’ Euro 2020 squad over some big names such as Dayot Upamecano.

His form and ability has led to some high praise indeed – speaking to Football Transfer Tavern, La Liga expert Euan McTear said: “He’s still so young, he’s got energy, great positioning too. All the centre-backs, not just in Spain I think, but if you look around Europe, he’s got to be one of the highest prospects.

“To be playing for France who have countless centre-backs, if he’s able to get himself into that group, then, yeah, he’s pretty special.”

Indeed, he ended the campaign as Sevilla’s highest-rated player (7.01) and recorded an average of three aerial duels won, 1.2 interceptions and a 90.1% passing accuracy per league outing, via WhoScored.

The 5 foot 10 beast, who is valued at £54m by Transfermarkt, is evidently a cool, calm and intelligent ball-playing defender, and that could be exactly what’s needed in the heart of Spurs’ defence.

Once Nuno gets through the door, he could well solve one of their biggest problems in a heartbeat by signing the Sevilla star.

AND in other news, Alasdair Gold reveals fresh twist in Nuno Santo pursuit…

According to Sky Germany (via fotbolltransfers.com), Southampton are interested in signing Thomas Delaney from Borussia Dortmund this summer.

The Lowdown: Saints preparing for new season

The Saints went through a mixed campaign last term, finishing in 15th place in the Premier League table but also reaching an F.A Cup semi-final.

Ralph Hasenhuttl will be demanding a lot more from his players next term, and he will no doubt want to bring in some fresh faces as well.

The Latest: Saints eye Delaney

Now, it is being reported that the Saints are keen on Dortmund midfielder Delaney.

Norwich City and Crystal Palace are two of the other sides also interested in his services.

The Verdict: Top quality

Signing Delaney would be a statement of intent from Hasenhuttl and co. In three seasons with Die Schwarzgelben, he has 86 appearances, with 15 of them coming at the highest level – the Champions League (Transfermarkt).

He also has 58 caps for Denmark, and he has appeared in every game at Euro 2020 for his country – he was hailed as “very important” by former Dortmund boss Edin Terzic earlier this year (bvbbuzz.com).

Valued at £13.5m (Transfermarkt), it is unclear exactly how much he would set the St. Mary’s Stadium outfit back, but he would no doubt be a top signing for Southampton. It remains to be seen whether they can win the race to sign him.

In other news, Southampton also want this former Manchester United man.

Ever since his arrival at Manchester United, Paul Pogba’s relationship with the club has been a tempestuous one.

The French midfielder has been linked with a move away on various occasions, with recent reports from the Daily Express indicating that Juventus are interested in bringing him back to Italy.

However, former Red Devils striker Odion Ighalo has pleaded with the club to keep Pogba at Old Trafford – advice that they should heed.

Whilst having not quite potentially hit the heights expected of him since his arrival from Juventus, Pogba has still submitted some excellent statistics in his time as a Red Devils player.

In 190 appearances since his return to Manchester, he has scored 37 goals and provided a further 38 assists. That sees him average 0.39 goal contributions per game at Old Trafford, figures which are not too far away from the numbers he accumulated in his time in Italy.

Making 178 appearances for Juventus, the £54m-rated midfielder scored 34 goals and teed up 40 assists at a rate of a 0.41 direct goal contributions per game.

Whilst it may seem like Pogba has not quite performed at the peak of his powers for United, Ighalo’s assessment of the midfielder’s “exceptional” performances isn’t actually too far wrong.

Even in the current season, a campaign which has been disrupted through injury, the 28-year-old has continued to be decisive. In the ten matches in which he has had a direct goal contribution, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have a 100% record.

His contributions this season have also been pivotal. Having struck decisively against Fulham and Burnley, it means that Pogba’s goals have been worth four points, without which the Red Devils would be firmly involved in the battle just to finish in the top four.

Meanwhile, his goal against AC Milan at the San Siro in the Europa League guided United through to the quarter-finals of the competition, in which they are now well placed to reach the last four.

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Whilst Pogba’s future remains uncertain, Ed Woodward and the Red Devils hierarchy really need to listen to his former teammate Ighalo and keep him at the club.

AND in more news, Solskjaer has been boosted by the return of a defender at the best possible time…

According to Calciomercato, West Ham United are interested in signing Wout Weghorst from Wolfsburg this summer.

The Lowdown: West Ham need a striker

David Moyes has led the Irons through a wonderful campaign – they ended up finishing in sixth place in the Premier League, which secured them a spot in next term’s Europa League.

If they want to be competitive both in Europe and domestically next year, though, they will need to bring in a new striker – they only have Michail Antonio available as a natural number nine option at the moment.

The Latest: Hammers eye Weghorst

Now, it is being reported the Irons are interested in Wolfsburg forward Weghorst.

Serie A outfit AS Roma are also believed to be in pursuit, via the Italian outlet.

The Verdict: Good option

Weghorst has been in magnificent form with German outfit Wolfsburg, who secured Champions League football via the Bundesliga this campaign. He netted 25 goals in all competitions for the club, taking his career tally at the Volkswagen Arena to 63 strikes in 120 (Transfermarkt). Add in the 45 in 86 he managed at previous employers AZ Alkmaar, and he has 108 goals in his last 206 matches.

He is currently valued at £27m, and given his form, he could cost even more than that. Some West Ham fans will be hesitant to capture the 28-year-old given the experience they had with Sebastien Haller, a similar kind of player who lasted just 18 months at the London side before moving to Ajax. However, Weghorst has shown enough on a long-term basis now to indicate he would be more dangerous than the former Eintracht Frankfurt forward.

In other news, David Ornstein makes this Harry Kane claim.

When one player comes back, it feels as though another one gets injured at Celtic.

The Hoops are set to be boosted this week by the return of Anthony Ralston who missed their clash with Ross County at the weekend.

It will be a timely boost for the Bhoys as they gear up for the first Europa League group stage encounter of the campaign.

They take on Real Betis in Sevilla but they do now have a major problem.

On the chalkboard

Defensive issues are mounting for Celtic with Greg Taylor set to miss the match in Spain with a shoulder problem.

The left-back missed the Old Firm derby a few weeks ago with an injury and had to withdraw from the Scotland squad during the international break.

In that defeat to Rangers, Ange Postecoglou decided to hand a debut to Josip Juranovic but he began his Celtic career out of position at left-back.

This would be a risky decision in midweek and instead, they should consider unleashing someone who is more competent on the left-hand side of defence.

The manager left Boli Bolingoli out of Celtic’s Europa League squad so the only other players he could turn to is new signing Liam Scales or the rarely-seen Adam Montgomery.

The latter made his breakthrough towards the back end of last season when John Kennedy was in temporary charge of the team but he’s made a real impact under the new boss.

Montgomery has featured on five occasions this term but is yet to start in 2021/22 for Celtic.

However, that simply has to change on Thursday evening with Taylor out injured. First and foremost, the 19-year-old hasn’t put a foot wrong this term.

Secondly, he possesses the attacking attributes that Celtic’s number one option in that position has in his locker.

The teenager has previously described himself as “tricky” and has already been compared to a certain Kieran Tierney.

If Montgomery can live up to the Scotland international’s high standards then he will be an instant success at Parkhead.

Importantly, the manager also trusts him significantly. The defender came on against AZ Alkmaar last month when Taylor was first injured and performed admirably. Postecoglou remarked: “I thought Monty was outstanding coming on, a young player, knowing that we’re going to have defend a fair bit of the game.

“I thought he did an outstanding job.”

Based on that review, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Australian unleashed again when they travel to Spain later in the week.

AND in other news, Newspaper journalist makes big Dom McKay claim, Celtic fans must be fuming…