After Nunez: Julian Ward already now eyeing 'phenomenal' midfield signing for Liverpool

Liverpool’s new sporting director Julian Ward is believed to be eyeing up a move for Leeds United starlet Kalvin Phillips this summer, according to The Telegraph.

The 26-year-old is an academy graduate at Elland Road, working his way up through the ranks at Elland Road to make his first-team debut back in 2015, where he has since gone on to become an integral feature in Jesse Marsch’s starting XI, making 234 appearances for the Premier League side to date.

The midfielder does still have two years remaining on his contract with the Yorkshire outfit, but his impressive performances appear to have caught the eye of multiple top-flight clubs, one of those being the Reds.

Ward and Jurgen Klopp are serious in their pursuit of Benfica forward Darwin Nunez, according to reliable figures in the press, and now it looks like Phillips could be the second big signing this summer.

In a new article published by The Telegraph, it’s claimed that Liverpool are currently ‘monitoring’ Phillips’ situation, but are set to face competition for his signature from rivals Manchester City.

The source goes on to state that Aston Villa have also been linked with the Leeds talisman, but that the Whites are in ‘ongoing contract talks’ with their man, meaning that a summer exit is ‘not guaranteed’.

The outlet reports that any club making an attempt to sign the creative will have to cough up a fee of somewhere in the region of £50-60m.

With the news that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been given the green light to leave Liverpool during the upcoming window, the Reds will now be on the hunt to find a suitable replacement in the middle of the park, and Phillips could potentially be the ideal candidate to take his place.

The 19-cap international, who was once