Steve McManaman, a former Liverpool player, has recommended that the club consider signing Manchester City’s midfielder Kalvin Phillips if they are unable to secure Jude Bellingham’s transfer.
With the summer transfer window approaching, football clubs are gearing up to make moves in the market, and Liverpool is no exception.
Although Bellingham has been a key target for Liverpool, recent reports suggest that he is more likely to join Real Madrid. Consequently, McManaman has highlighted 27-year-old Phillips as a potential alternative.
Phillips joined Manchester City last summer from Leeds United for £42 million (Sky Sports) but has only played 102 minutes of Premier League football since then.
In a discussion about Liverpool’s transfer plans, McManaman shared his thoughts with Final Word Premier League Productions. He acknowledged that while Liverpool has money to spend, they may not be able to afford the £150 million price tag for Bellingham.
Instead, he suggested looking at the “second best” and “third best” options that could fit into the team and the club’s budget.
McManaman mentioned Phillips as an example of a player who might be available and could potentially suit Liverpool’s needs, although he did not explicitly state that Phillips is the right choice.
He pointed out that there are players who, for various reasons, may not be playing regularly for their current teams but could still contribute to Liverpool’s squad.
Liverpool fans were already aware that signing Bellingham might be a long shot, but they had hoped for a change of fortune or for the player to remain at Borussia Dortmund, allowing them to pursue him next summer.
However, with Bellingham’s move to Real Madrid looking increasingly likely, the club must consider alternative targets like Phillips to bolster their midfield.
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