Leeds United in advanced talk to sign Premier League star man this week

Leeds United began their Championship campaign on Sunday afternoon, but were exposed to an obvious vulnerability that Daniel Farke will aim to correct…

Nat Phillips to join Leeds United?

Despite all of the positives from the 2-2 draw with Cardiff City, their defensive flaws were once again exposed, forcing them to come back from two goals down to secure a point.

This has been a long-standing problem for the Whites, and one that their new manager is certainly hoping to resolve before the summer window closes on September 1st.

Fortunately, journalist Rudy Galetti has provided an update on their pursuit of Nat Phillips, implying that they are remarkably close to striking a deal for the Liverpool midfielder.”Advanced talks between #LeedsUTD and #Liverpool for Nat #Phillips,” the Italian writer wrote. The parties are discussing various details concerning the plan, which is set at £10 million plus add-ons.”

 

Leeds United in advanced talk to sign Premier League star man this week
Leeds United in advanced talk to sign Premier League star man this week

Nat Phillips, how good are you?

Despite dominating huge periods of yesterday’s game, with 72% possession and 25 shots, their shaky backline raised its ugly head once more.

Last season, the Yorkshire club conceded 78 Premier League goals, the highest in the league. This occurred a year after they conceded 79 goals in the previous season as they nearly avoided relegation.

Despite their dominance, the opposition scored 1.34 anticipated goals on 28% possession, implying that the defense underperformed yet again, a frustrating trend.

So, acquiring a steely operator like Phillips, who will gladly put his body on the line to prevent a goal, might be a vital asset in shoring up their biggest concern and helping them take a massive step towards an immediate return to the top flight.

After all, the 26-year-old goalkeeper has already achieved one promotion, having spent the previous season on loan with AFC Bournemouth.

During that time, in which he appeared in 17 Championship games, he maintained a 7.04 average rating, which was supported by 1.5 interceptions and 4.1 clearances per game, according to Sofascore.

In the Premier League last season, only one Leeds player equaled his clearances, and he has since left Elland Road.

However, this is not his only achievement since graduating from Liverpool’s academy. He even played under Jurgen Klopp for a while, guiding them through their injury problem with amazing assurance.

His performance drew plaudits from his German coach, who said, “In the air, he’s a monster, but you could see it today, he’s football-wise not bad, really good.” Such a recommendation came during the 2020/21 season, when he maintained a 7.19 average rating in the Premier League that year, with 1.2 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, and 4.8 clearances per game, according to Sofascore.

Phillips appears to be prepared to face both Leeds’ current level and the one they hope to return to, with his resolve to prevent goals a big benefit that underlines his character as a fine defender. Perhaps his presence will provide some much-needed steadiness at the back, creating a solid foundation for a defense that will undoubtedly improve with his presence.

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