Former Aston Villa striker Kevin Phillips says Liverpool are now in a position of strength in English football that they could sign Villans captain Jack Grealish ahead of any other club.

The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a £70m move to Manchester United this summer but Phillips thinks the Merseyside club would be favourites if they entered the race for the midfielder:

“Liverpool are at a point where they can splash out on the world’s best. Those world’s best players want to come and play for Liverpool and Klopp. He plays a certain style and he will not buy someone unless it fits his system.”

“The obvious one is Jack Grealish. If Villa go down I am certain he will move on. “Could he play for Liverpool? He is the only one out of the bottom three or four teams that could fit in that team. They will certainly be targeting players from top abroad teams and around the world.”

Grealish has certainly had a very good season, having scored nine goals and provided eight assists in 31 appearances. However, there has been no suggestion that Jurgen Klopp’s side have been tracking the Englishman.

The Reds are apparently after an attacking midfielder, with the likes of Kai Havertz and Todd Cantwell having been mentioned as possible targets.

It does, though, appear that Grealish’s likeliest destination is Old Trafford at the moment. The midfielder is reportedly looking to leave Villa Park even if his team stay up this campaign.