LEEDS IN PHILLIPS BID - CLAIM
The Sun are claiming that Elland Road boss David O‚ÇÖLeary is so desperate to acquire the services of the Premiership‚ÇÖs number one marksman that he will shatter the club‚ÇÖs transfer record to do so.
However, Black Cats manager Peter Reid will be loathe to part with his prize asset, even if the club‚ÇÖs coffers would be swelled by such a huge amount.
Reid is in the prime position because he is under no pressure to sell, as the 26-year-old hot-shot put pen-to-paper on an improved five-year deal in March ‚Çô earning him an estimated £25,000 a week.
If the Wearsiders were to part with Phillips, it would be an amazing profit, as Reid only paid £625,000 when he bought the England international from Watford in 1997.
Whites boss O‚ÇÖLeary knows that, despite his young side showing up so well in the league, they desperately missed the firepower of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, whom they sold to Atletico Madrid at the start of last term.
With a Champions League challenge looming, the Irishman is aware that to compete with the best in Europe he will need a striker of genuine quality.
The one ray of light that O‚ÇÖLeary may look to is that Phillips recently stated that he would consider a move away from The Stadium of Light if it would boost his chances of winning trophies.
To read Phillips‚ÇÖ claim that he needs to win silverware, click here ‚Çô 14/05/00
