Leeds United and Kalvin Phillips would both accept a move to Manchester City
Manchester City may be able to buy Kalvin Phillips as Leeds United have a price they would accept and the player values the opportunity, The Mirror says.
The same publication reported last week that the Premier League champions had “emerged as contenders” for the Whites midfielder and The Mail has said he is their “top target” to replace the exiting Fernandinho.
Top flight survival looked like it would be enough to secure the England international’s future at Elland Road, at least for the short-term future, but there now appears to be a willingness on the part of both club and player to do a deal this summer.
According to The Mirror: “Leeds would reluctantly be prepared to sell Phillips for around £50million and he has two years left on his contract.”
“Phillips, 26, has always said he is happy at Elland Road, but joining City would be an opportunity too good to turn down.”
Sudden
The final months of the season have been an exhausting combination of potential relegation and transfer speculation surrounding key stars for Whites fans.
Although the first of those dangers was dramatically avoided on the final day with victory at Brentford, the latter is looking harder to dodge.
The exit of Brazilian winger Raphinha appears to have become inevitable if Barcelona can stump up the fee, but the potential loss of Phillips as well is gathering momentum.
West Ham and then Manchester United had appeared to be the primary chasers for the 26-year-old, but neither apparently interest him as much as the title-winners.
The chance to win trophies is clearly going to be a draw, but it is surprising that the club seem to be so accommodating.
If he wants to go and a bid comes in then there is an argument to say, as there is for Raphinha, that they have given a lot at Elland Road and haven’t downed tools during the battle against the drop.
Having helped keep the club up they may have earned the right to move on, but there is no doubt that losing both would be damaging to Jesse Marsch’s plans.
Phillips has reportedly been open to a new contract with the club for most of the season and this is more proof that it should have been sewn up months ago.
If he wants to go then an acrimonious split with a local hero is not good for anyone, but they aren’t short of money at the Etihad and £50million seems like the lower end of what a player of his standing should cost.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay set out the firm stance the club must take in the face of advancing news on Raphinha.