Aston Villa target next cut-price transfer after Philippe Coutinho as deal 'fully agreed'

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in a summer transfer swoop for Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips as Steven Gerrard aims to shape his squad for the 2022/23 campaign, which is set to feature Philippe Coutinho after reports in Spain claim his permanent transfer is all but completed.

Gerrard wants to bolster his midfield options this summer and will recruit a number six as a priority signing head of a crucial Premier League season. Club owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens want Villa to be competing for European football next season and the two billionaires will back Gerrard in the market.

The summer window opens in June and Villa have been linked to a host of midfielders, including Phillips, Yves Bissouma, Boubacar Kamara, Geoffrey Kondogbia and Ibrahima Sangare. And reports claim that Leeds star Phillips features at the top of Gerrard's summer wish list.

He could cost up to £60million this summer, but if Leeds are relegated from the Premier League this season, his value will decrease. And the Daily Mail claim that the Elland Road club face the very real prospect of losing several of their kay players this summer if Jesse Marsch's side fail to avoid the drop come the end of the month.

Their report claims that Phillips, Raphinha and Patrick Bamford will all be available for modest fees averaging around £30million if Leeds are relegated. Villa could face stronger competition to sign England international Phillips if indeed his value does halve, but the club have a long-standing interest in the player since they aw a bid rejected in the summer of 2019 following promotion back to the Premier League.

Manchester United are also said to be progressing with a deal to bring Phillips to Old Trafford, while other