Arsenal ready to tempt Phillips with £16m bid

The Gunners, alerted by the Wearsiders' alarming slump this season, believe they can prise Phillips away from the Stadium of Light and have set their sights on a summer deal.

Sunderland eased Premiership relegation fears with a priceless 1-0 win at Derby County on Saturday to end a run of seven games without success in all competitions.

The ultimate fate of Peter Reid's side could determine the future of the phenomenal Phillips, who this season became the first post-war Sunderland player to score 100 League goals and two years ago won Europe's Golden Shoe for hitting 30 in the top flight.

But regardless of Sunderland's status next season, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is weighing up a move to test their resolve to hold on to Phillips.

Northern Echo Sport understands that Sunderland are aware of the Gunners' interest and are bracing themselves for a formal offer.

Phillips, who struck his 11th goal of the season in the 4-1 mauling at Manchester United nine days ago, has also attracted the attention of Arsenal's rivals Tottenham.

The 28-year-old England international insists he is happy on Wearside, but has hinted at his dissatisfaction with his club's failure to build on successive seventh-place finishes in the Premiership in the past two seasons.

Hitchin-born Phillips, a bargain £650,000 signing from Watford in July 1997, supported Arsenal as a boy and the lure of a move to Highbury, together with a near-guarantee of Champions' League action next season, would be more than tempting.

With Dennis Bergkamp nearing 33, doubts over the futures of Nwankwo Kanu and Sylvain Wiltord, and Francis Jeffers having much to prove after missing most of the season through injury since his £10m arrival from Everton, Wenger is eager to bring in more support for leading scorer Thierry Henry.

Spurs' Ukrainian striker Sergei Rebrov claims he has already been approached by Wenger with a view to making a controversial move across North London.

But Rebrov, a former target of Newcastle boss Bobby Robson, has been something of a disappointment at White Hart Lane.

And Phillips, who Watford plucked from the obscurity of non-league Baldock Town, is in his prime with a proven Premiership record.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has kept Phillips' World Cup dream alive by naming him in the squad for Wednesday's friendly with Holland in Amsterdam.

It had been suggested that Phillips faced the axe after his indifferent showing against Sweden in the friendly at Old Trafford in November, but Eriksson has handed him another chance at the expense of the likes of Robbie Fowler and Andy Cole.

Eriksson has called up Aston Villa's Darius Vassell and Bolton's Michael Ricketts for the first time, in a 24-man party which features only one other North-East representative in Middlesbrough centre-back Gareth Southgate.

Phillips is effectively facing his last real chance to press for a place in Japan and South Korea, as it was revealed that Eriksson is considering taking a young striker to the finals.

Eriksson's options for the clash with the Dutch are already restricted, with 14 players ruled out due to suspension or injury, including Newcastle's stress-fracture victim Kieron Dyer, who he had wanted to try out on the left flank.

Liverpool's Steve Gerrard is a further doubt with a tight hamstring.

England's request for the roof to be closed on the Amsterdam Stadium to prepare for the indoor conditions against Argentina at the World Cup is unlikely to be granted unless there is bad weather.

Eriksson's main concern will be assessing his frontline options. Liverpool's Michael Owen and Emile Heskey are clearly the in-form club partnership.

It seems likely, however, that Owen will be rested, at least from the start, allowing the Swede a final opportunity to experiment.

Eriksson's right-hand man, Tord Grip, revealed the prize on offer to Vassell and Ricketts.

"We always said there could be a chance for a young striker to go to the World Cup and if someone can show they have something a bit special, then they will have a chance,'' admitted Grip.

With three striking berths virtually assured to Owen, Heskey and Fowler, while Teddy Sheringham is also firmly in contention, there is even greater pressure on Phillips, who has yet to score in seven England appearances - four of them starts.

While Eriksson did his best to be positive about him after the Sweden match, he admitted he "should not be honest if I said I had seen enough''.

The chances are Phillips will be given another start against Holland, but Grip stressed: "We know what Teddy Sheringham, Robbie Fowler and Andy Cole can do at this level.

"I'm sure they would have liked to play in this game, but they shouldn't worry just because they have missed out.''

Eriksson has given another chance to emerging talent, with Under-21 defenders Wayne Bridge and Ledley King likely to make their debuts at some stage.

He has proved that his constant, country-wide scouting missions are worthwhile, offering hope to players at every Premiership club.

Take Ricketts, for example. He has made an immediate impression in the top flight with 15 goals this season.

But, as a Bolton player, he might have been overlooked in the past.

Grip revealed: "He made a terrific start to the season and has continued to score goals since then. I see him as like another Emile Heskey and we need that type of player in the squad.

"If Emile was not available, we would need to know there was someone else around.''

In midfield, Darren Anderton must surely get another chance, while Trevor Sinclair is also vying for the left-wing berth along with the maturing Joe Cole.

"There are not as many options there,'' said Grip. "It would have been nice to see Kieron Dyer on the left but we'll try that another time.''

With only two more friendlies before the final squad is picked, however, time is running out for Phillips.

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