Aston Villa handed Kalvin Phillips transfer boost as Leeds face battle to keep star

Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa are safe from the drop in mid-table security in 12th.

They will climb at least one place if they beat 11th placed Crystal Palace on Sunday.

But the ramifications of the relegation battle can still have a big impact at Villa Park as clubs heading to the Championship could have to sell their prized assets.

And it is clear Villa officials and Gerrard will be keeping a close on Leeds, who remain in the drop zone after losing at home to Chelsea on Wednesday night.

Leeds’ Premier League survival battle could help Villa land England midfielder Kalvin Phillips if the Elland Road club go down.

Gerrard is a long-time admirer of Phillips, 26, who has 19 caps for England, and was courted by Villa previously under Dean Smith.

The Daily Mail claim that the Elland Road club face the very real prospect of losing several of their key players this summer including Phillips, Raphinha and Patrick Bamford - if Jesse Marsch's side fail to avoid the drop.

Leeds have been trying to tie Phillips to a new contract as he has just two years left on his deal.

Villa are also believed to be interested in thrashing out a deal to sign Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara, who Gerrard scouted in person recently.

Aston Villa have completed the permanent signing of Philippe Coutinho, according to reports.

The Brazilian has been on loan at Villa since January after he returned to the Premier League four years after his £142million transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona.

Boss Gerrard admitted after Villa’s home defeat to Liverpool that the club were trying to land the ace permanently.

Now reports claim that Coutinho,29 will stay at Villa permanently after the club and Barca have reached an agreement to discount his