This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...
West Brom manager Slaven Bilic has a transfer dilemma on the cusp of the kick-off of the new Championship season, with Aston Villa looking to add Baggies winger Matty Phillips to their ranks, as reported on Football Insider.
Phillips, 28, has been at the Hawthorns since July 2016, making 87 appearances and scoring 11 goals with five of those goals coming last season in 32 appearances, as the Baggies narrowly missed out on promotion via the play-offs.
So would Phillips be a good signing for Villa?
We discuss.........
Sam Rourke
"It'd be a handy signing, but not essential.
"Villa already are pretty nicely stocked in the wide areas, having sealed deals for Jota, Trezeguet and El-Ghazi this summer already.
"However Phillips does bring an element of Premier League experience which the aforementioned trio don't have, so I can see the sense in that respect.
"But would Phillips be a regular starter? It's hard to say right now, and I think there are other options and targets they should be prioritising ahead of the 28-year-old.
"Phillps is reaching the latter stages of his career now and will surely wan to find a club where he is guaranteed regular game-time."
Kealan Hughes
"Phillips would be a great addition for Villa and would help to strengthen their options on the wing, if not start himself.
"Jota and El Ghazi are already very good options for Dean Smith to have but Phillips is perhaps a more reliable choice in terms of scoring goals, and he has a lot more Premier League experience than those two as well.
"He is capable of scoring ridiculous goals too and that could prove decisive in winning matches, and having match-winners like that in the squad can be the difference in survival.
"The West Brom man should also be fairly cheap as he only has a year left on his contract, and therefore the club could choose to cash in on him instead of risk losing him for nothing next summer."
Jacob Potter
"This would be a smart signing by the Villans ahead of the new Premier League season.
"Phillips hasn’t been at his best in recent years as he’s struggled with injuries, which will have come as a frustration to the winger.
"But he has shown glimpses of his quality, and he’s seemingly done enough to impress Dean Smith at Aston Villa.
"He scored five goals and was on hand to provide seven assists at West Brom last term, and certainly has the quality to be playing in the top-flight.
"Phillips has already played at that level earlier in his career, and was a rare bright spark for QPR in a difficult few seasons for the Hoops in the Premier League.
"He could provide the creative spark alongside Jack Grealish in the Aston Villa team next season."