Newcastle United are still yet to sign any new players this summer.
The new season starts this weekend, with the Magpies taking on West Ham United on Sunday.
The hope is that a deal for Joe Willock will soon be finalised, following reports last night that a £20 million+ agreement is in place.
Although it would obviously be fantastic to get Willock back, he simply cannot be the only incoming.
Newcastle have been linked with plenty of names over the course of the summer.
One man who got linked recently was Nat Phillips.
There is a reasonable chance the defender will leave Anfield this summer, with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez all back fit again. Ibrahima Konate has also joined the club.
He recently opened up about his situation, telling Goal he needs to be playing games regularly.
The Athletic reported last week that Newcastle were in contact with the Reds over Phillips.
But on Twitter, someone asked journalist Alan Nixon about the possibility of something happening.
He said that Liverpool are demanding £15 million for the centre-half, and that Newcastle won’t pay that.
Phillips an unlikely move for Newcastle
Since he’s got two years left on his contract at Anfield, Liverpool are within their rights to demand such a fee.
If over £20 million is going to be spent on Willock, then it’s very hard to see Mike Ashley then sanctioning another £15 million for Phillips.
Liverpool could end up lowering their valuation.
But given the track record of Michael Edwards selling fringe players in recent years, that does not seem particularly likely.
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