Middlesbrough just dropped a massive bid for Ashley Phillips, reportedly “more than £10m,” and they are not messing around when it comes to their Championship promotion campaign this season. This news comes hot on the heels of Will Lankshear’s move from Tottenham Hotspur to Boro, showing Middlesbrough is actively hunting young talent.
Why Boro Is Dropping Serious Cash on Phillips
Phillips, currently with Stoke City on loan, has yet to even make a single appearance for Tottenham’s first team, but he is a seriously hot commodity in the Championship. Spurs signed him three years ago for £2.5m, and since then, he has absolutely established himself as an exciting young defender with a loan spell at Plymouth Argyle and two straight seasons at Stoke. That kind of consistent performance in a tough league makes him a prime target for a club like Boro looking to climb up the ranks. It is pretty clear he is not staying at Spurs; he wasn’t even listed on their preseason tour roster, which is a huge sign he is out the door.
The Financial Game Behind the Move
This move is about more than just Phillips’ skills on the pitch, though. Tottenham looks set to flip Phillips for a tidy profit, moving him for over four times what they paid. He is well back in the center-back pecking order there, and it just doesn’t seem like his skills are ready for a high-functioning Premier League side right now. There is also a pretty sweet financial wrinkle for Blackburn Rovers, who have a 15% sell-on clause in Phillips’ contract. That means they will get a nice little windfall when this deal goes through. It is a smart business move for Spurs, even if Phillips never actually played a first team match for them.
Phillips is clearly in demand, drawing attention from other English clubs and even some from the continent. This move for Middlesbrough signals their intent, big time. If they land Phillips for that kind of money, it shows they are serious about pushing for promotion this coming season. This young defender’s future is definitely one to watch!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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