£10m Leeds United target now available for loan as EFL rivals circle ahead of deadline – The Athletic

Previous Leeds United target and Liverpool centre-back Nat Phillips is now a loan target for Middlesbrough, after the Whites were told £10million was the asking price.

The Whites look to be fairly wrapped up in the centre-back department this week as they prepare for the end of the transfer window.

Leeds will surely be busy, but one position they don’t need a new signing is surely centre-back, after the arrival of Joe Rodon.

What’s the latest with Nat Phillips?

Phil Hay revealed early in the summer that a top target for Leeds in the centre-back department was Liverpool fringe player Nat Phillips.

The 26-year-old has struggled to make a consistent impact in the Reds first team outside of helping Jurgen Klopp through an immense injury crisis in 20/21.

Leeds were quoted at a £10million asking price when their interest in the centre-back was at its peak, but now, The Athletic have revealed that the player could be free to leave on loan or permanently.

Who wants to sign him?

After bringing in Rodon, Leeds are seemingly not going to be going after Phillips, but he might still end up playing at Elland Road this season.

That is because the above report shares Middlesbrough’s emerging interest in signing him, among a number of other clubs too.

It is said Phillips is desperate to leave Anfield in order to play regular first team football, which won’t be coming any time soon at Liverpool.

Who will Leeds sign in midfield?

We have come out of this summer with a much stronger option for how we want to play in Joe Rodon, than signing Phillips.

Leeds would have likely been forced into spending £10million to sign Phillips, and Rodon has come to us without a permanent fee, and immediately looks a great fit.

How much we pay for Rodon in the summer of 2024 if we want to make it a permanent signing remains to be seen, but he’s showing already that he’d be worthwhile to look at.