Aston Villa will make another attempt to sign Kalvin Phillips this summer, three years after Leeds resisted their bids for the England international.

Phillips is emerging as Steven Gerrard’s leading target ahead of next season with Villa prepared to pay a club record £60 million.

At least one new defensive midfielder is regarded as a priority, and it is the position Villa have struggled to fill since promotion back to the Premier League in 2019.

Gerrard’s predecessor Dean Smith moved for Phillips after achieving promotion via the Championship play-off final, and the absence of a proven player who can protect the defence remains a big problem.

Without a defensive midfielder, there is often a huge hole between defence and attack due to the offensive qualities of players such as John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey, and it was again blatantly obvious at Molineux on Saturday.

Gerrard wants a player who will ‘screen’ in front of his back-four and move Villa up the pitch, and Phillips possesses all the qualities required.

Villa’s move for Phillips will be complicated, with Leeds determined to keep the talismanic midfielder and their resolve likely to be emboldened by avoiding relegation to the Championship.