Kalvin Phillips will leave Leeds United for Manchester City but won’t for Manchester United
Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips is “sure” to move to Manchester City because of the champions’ spending power, according to Jacque Talbot.
90min reported on Friday (3 June) that a bid was being readied from the Etihad for the Whites midfielder to turn their interest into a tangible offer.
And despite a new contract at Elland Road being an option for some time, dependent on the Premier League survival that was eventually secured, it is now looking more uncertain, and journalist Talbot is certain the 26-year-old is on his way to join Pep Guardiola’s side.
In a thread of comments on his Twitter page he rubbished the idea of a move to Old Trafford as has previously been suggested and wrote: “They don’t need to bend to anyone’s will. Plus Phillips loves the club.
“The thing is, this is Manchester City. They can afford to spend over the odds to attract Leeds. Marcelo Bielsa, the player’s mentor, is now gone.
“They will no doubt be offering to build the entire midfield around Phillips.
“Plus its imminent Champions League football, plus there will be a considerable wage increase, plus he’s 26, plus there’s a World Cup coming up.
“I am sure this one gets done.”
Yes and no
Some of the logic is valid but there are some elements which don’t entirely hold up, so while it is certainly a concern for Whites fans that the prospect of their star man leaving is becoming more real, it doesn’t seem to be inevitable.
It is certainly true that there is no shortage of financial muscle behind Guardiola so they could make a tempting offer to both the club and the player.
It was previously suggested in The Mirror that United would reluctantly agree to a deal worth £50million, and Phillips wouldn’t be able to turn down an approach from the Etihad.
The absence of Bielsa likely is also relevant since whatever plus points Jesse Marsch brings to the table he doesn’t have the history with these players that his predecessor had.
But on the other hand, the suggestion that City would be offering to build their team around Phillips seems highly unlikely.
Rodri is a key part of their side, and although it is thought they want to bring in the Yorkshire Pirlo to replace Fernandinho, the Brazilian was by no means a certain starter over the last couple of seasons.
They spent a British-record £100million to bring Jack Grealish in from Aston Villa last summer and he hasn’t been made the centre point, so there is no reason to expect they would do so with a cheaper signing.
A while the winter World Cup is surely in most players’ minds as they consider their options this summer, as Alan McInally pointed out recently to Footy Accumulators, he’s already a regular starter for Gareth Southgate playing in this Whites side, and he isn’t going to play more regularly anywhere else.
So as a move starts to look increasingly possible, it doesn’t necessarily make perfect sense all round.
In other Leeds United news, Fabrizio Romano has delivered an update on the situation, including what the club “dream” of doing.