Leeds United have been linked with a move for 18-year-old Manchester City midfielder Romeo Lavia.
What's the news?
According to Phil Hay of The Athletic, Leeds "are interested" in the midfielder, as they look to strengthen that area of the squad ahead of next season.
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It's suggested that Man City are unlikely to sell but he could be used in a deal for Kalvin Phillips
The next Phillips
As a product of Anderlecht's youth system, the Belgian joined City's U18 side back in the 2020 summer transfer window.
Since then, the midfielder has gone on to make 60 appearances for the Manchester club across their senior and youth sides, chipping in with two goals and five assists along the way.
Back in September, Vincent Kompany had this to say about the youngster and his attributes on the pitch.
He said: "He [Lavia] picked up a lot and showed that he is aggressive in recovering the ball and while also being calm on the ball."
After completing his first and only full 90 minutes in a senior game for the Citizens during their 6-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup, the Manchester Evening News said that Lavia "clearly likes a tackle, and his passes over the top and through the lines were Fernandinho-esque."
This particular side of his game could make him the ideal heir to Leeds midfielder Phillips, who has been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.
With 49 Premier League appearances under his belt, the England international has won 87 tackles in total, in addition to having a rating of 97/100 for his tackling ability according to FBref.
Taking this into account, despite still only being a teenager, the £1.8m-rated City youngster certainly has the talent to become a fully-fledged Premier League player.
Also, having spent time around the City first team and trained alongside their senior players under the coaching of Pep Guardiola will have undeniably been beneficial for Lavia and his knowledge of the game.
This could not only make him a suitable long-term replacement for Phillips if he leaves this summer, but also an exciting prospect for the Leeds fans to have in their team.
If the Whites see an opportunity to negotiate a deal for Lavia with City, then they should definitely test the waters to see if they would be willing to let the midfielder leave.