Jamie O’Hara reacts as Manchester City close in on deal for Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara believes that Pep Guardiola has paid the right amount for the signing of Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United.
The England international recently secured a £45million agreement to join Manchester City this summer, becoming the second signing for the Premier League champions after Erling Haaland.
O’Hara, who played 93 matches in the Premier League, while talking to talkSPORT as quoted by Leeds Live, suggested that the reigning Premier League champions got a great value for the player.
“I think £42million is a fair price. I think he is a top player, an international, but has he played Champions League football? Has he been in the Premier League for a number of years?” he said.
“Well, we will see won’t we with the player they bring in. I think he’s a really good player, I think it’s a great signing. He’s had some injuries, I think that probably hurt the transfer fee as well.
“They’ll argue over the fact he’s had a bad injury and didn’t really get properly going last season so it’s a good signing. Solid signing.”
Major Miss
Leeds fans have enjoyed a fantastic summer so far with three signings already over the line. However, letting go of Phillips would be a huge dent in their confidence and optimism for the new season.
In the recently concluded season with the Whites, the England international played 20 Premier League games, providing only one assist, largely because of suffering injuries on the way [Transfermarkt].
He may not have performed the same way as he did in the 2020-21 season for Leeds but Phillips will be a huge absence for Jesse Marsch.
Considering the fact that the Whites already had so many vulnerabilities in midfield, letting go of their star man was the last thing they would have hoped for.
However, the money they have recouped from Philips’ departure is a decent sum and it can be used to fill important loopholes within the side.
As Leeds were the second-worst Premier League side defensively in the recent season, they should make their defenders and defensive midfielders their strongest priority for this summer, especially after the imminent departure of the England international.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites now want to sign this striker with a rival set to kickstart a major £30million+ transfer battle