Aston Villa have been linked with a lot of players ever since Steven Gerrard arrived at the club, and after a successful January transfer window there is no doubt the Liverpudlian manager will be looking at his options moving forward to bolster his squad for next season.

The Champions League-winning midfielder turned manager has done an incredible job at Villa Park since joining in November last year when the side were 16th in the Premier League table, taking the team to new heights with the chance of securing a comfortable top-half finish as they are currently in ninth place in the league.

However, despite his success with the current squad, Gerrard is already looking at the weaknesses in his team and where he can improve ahead of next season and has spoken out about his desire to find a certain profile of midfielder for his team to improve following the West Ham defeat.

“We need more profile in our team, stature,” Gerrard said, when asked about Villa’s missing element.

With that being said, it is no wonder that the club has been linked to Kalvin Phillips, who is renowned for his defensive capabilities for both Leeds United and England in the centre of the pitch.

During his just over 18 months in the Premier League so far the £38k-per-week midfielder who was hailed “outstanding” by Gareth Southgate, has played a key part in Leeds United successes in the league so far, with the side picking up a ninth-place finish last season. With that in mind, it’s hardly a surprise his price tag has risen to £50m and above.

The 26-year-old star has completed the majority of his tackles successfully (52%), making 330 recoveries, winning 209 duels, 59 interceptions and 23 50/50 take-on challenges in his 41 appearances in the top flight so far according to Premier League Statistics.

That rightfully earned him a record-breaking starting spot in the England team last summer during the Euro 2020 tournament that saw England reach their first final since 1966.

It seems that his performances have not gone unnoticed by the Villa manager, who is now plotting a bid but will reportedly need to fight off Newcastle United to secure the signature of the midfielder. If they can get a deal across the line then he could potentially form a formidable duo with John McGinn in the side’s midfield set up next season.

Described as a player who is “Champions League material” by reporter Phil Hay, the duo would prove to be an all-action and dynamic force that would comfortably settle into most teams in the Premier League.

The signing of Phillips for Aston Villa could be the key to unlocking the final push the team needs to compete for a spot in a European tournament next season.

That will surely be Gerrard’s next goal in mind if they manage a top-half finish this season, and clearly from the manager’s aforementioned comments above, a midfielder of the Leeds United star’s calibre is exactly what they need to achieve that.

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