Leeds United and Kalvin Phillips have had no direct contact from Man United over £50million move
There has been no direct contact between Manchester United and Leeds United, or Kalvin Phillips, over a proposed move according to The Athletic.
Reports of the Old Trafford club moving in on the Whites star have gained traction in recent weeks, with the Manchester Evening News reporting that the club were “confident of seeing off any competitors”.
But the moves that have been made are reportedly all through intermediaries, with Phil Hay and Laurie Whitwell’s report noting various suggestions from the likes Patrick Bamford and Marcelo Bielsa against the midfield star burning his bridges at Elland Road to make the switch.
The Athletic report says: “Sources say Manchester United have begun exploring, via intermediaries, the prospect of a transfer worth £50 million, although there has been no direct contact between the clubs, and none with Phillips either.”
A previous quote from Bamford ahead of a clash with the Red Devils that, “All his family hate (Manchester) United,” also suggests a move is unlikely.
It goes on: “As one source told The Athletic, if the day arrives where Phillips leaves Elland Road “he would want to come back through the front door rather than the back door”.
“In Bielsa’s opinion, Phillips was wise enough to know how to handle any departure from Leeds diplomatically and to avoid his choice of new club creating bad blood.”
Cold water
Until a firm conclusion is reached one way or the other on this subject it is impossible to entirely write off the prospect of a highly contentious move.
Alan Smith is of course the poster boy of that situation, having denied he would ever play for the Manchester side before going on to do exactly that.
But as this report notes, the difference centres around Phillips’ personal connection to the club as a fan, as well as to the area and to other fans.
Nothing is impossible in football, especially when huge sums of money are involved.
But after being a central character in the long-awaited revival of his boyhood side it seems crazy to think that the England star would throw away that legacy to move to Old Trafford.
Yet, the possibility still hasn’t been taken off the table, and for as long as the door is open other clubs will sense an opportunity.
Relegation rearing its ugly head again throws a further spanner into the works, with it surely unlikely that even Phillips would put his love for the club first if it meant going back down to the Championship.
For so many reasons it is imperative for that to be avoided as a matter of urgency, then the star man’s future has to be tied up.
In other Leeds United news, Chris Sutton was disgusting with one Whites man during the 0-0 at Crystal Palace.