It seems as if Liverpool has used all the money it had available for the January transfer window on a move for a forward. The deal for Cody Gakpo could rise as high as $54m ($50m/£44m). And now time is very much running out for the Reds to bring in the midfielder that many of their supporters have been demanding this month. Theoretically, the club could generate funds through player sales and put those towards addressing what is the weakest area of the squad.
But that the club will find it difficult to receive the kind of money it wants for Phillips.
It looks, then, as if Naby Keïta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be the two players who depart on free transfers.
It's clear, then, that Liverpool made a mistake in keeping the pair and passing up its best fundraising opportunities.