---
title: "Manchester United: Red Devils in pole position to sign Ashley Phillips"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-transfer-news-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Manchester United Football Club"
published: "2022-02-11T11:13:35Z"
modified: "2022-02-11T11:14:46Z"
---

# Manchester United: Red Devils in pole position to sign Ashley Phillips

**Manchester United are leading Everton and two other Premier League clubs in the race to sign Blackburn Rovers centre-back Ashley Phillips, according to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-man-united-in-pole-position-to-sign-ashley-phillips-ahead-of-chelsea-tottenham-and-everton/).**

### The Lowdown: Phillips profiled

Phillips is just 16 years of age and has been labelled as [‘phenomenal’](https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/blackburn-rovers-ashley-phillips-emergence-22037546) and [‘the future’](https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/blackburn-rovers-phillips-wharton-mowbray-22698448) by Rovers boss Tony Mowbray.

\[freshpress-poll id=”387793″\]

Already standing at [6 foot 4](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-man-united-in-pole-position-to-sign-ashley-phillips-ahead-of-chelsea-tottenham-and-everton/), Phillips is an [England Under-17 international](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ashley-phillips/profil/spieler/859951) and is under contract at Ewood Park until [2023](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ashley-phillips/profil/spieler/859951).

He was recently included on the [bench](https://www.flashscore.co.uk/player/phillips-ashley/j7W5kuXk/) for Blackburn in an FA Cup defeat to Wigan Athletic, and it seems as if United officials are keeping a close eye on the teenager.

### The Latest: Source shares update

As reported by [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-man-united-in-pole-position-to-sign-ashley-phillips-ahead-of-chelsea-tottenham-and-everton/) on Thursday evening, United are in pole position to sign Phillips ahead of Chelsea, Everton and Tottenham.

A recruitment source informed the site that United are desperate to win the race for Phillips as they see the defender as a star of the future.

It is no surprise to see the Toffees in the race too, with Frank Lampard no doubt keen to keep up his [reputation](https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-fc-lampard-youth-mount-james-abraham-tuchel-manager-b901060.html) of developing young English players.

### The Verdict: Smart move

Although United failed to make a senior signing during the January transfer window, it is good to see that they are looking to bolster their academy ranks ahead of the summer.

The club were [poised](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-josh-feeney-manchester-20844152) to sign young centre-back Josh Feeney back in the summer but were pipped by Aston Villa to his services.

United officials may well be fearing a repeat of that move when it comes to Phillips, especially with three other clubs keen and Everton no doubt desperate to add depth at centre-back given their [injury crisis](https://www.liverpoolworld.uk/sport/football/everton/mina-gray-godfrey-doucoure-delph-everton-injury-news-and-potential-return-dates-3562468) in that position.

Hopefully, the Red Devils can land the Blackburn man and develop him in the club’s academy over the coming years.

***In other news: [Man Utd may now launch move for ‘fantastic’ Pochettino favourite who’s just left Spurs.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-news/manchester-united-red-devils-may-swoop-for-steve-hitchen/)***