Leeds United ‘dream’ of Kalvin Phillips stay amid Man United and Man City interest – Fabrizio Romano
Manchester United signing Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips is “difficult” due to the club, the player, and the competition, says Fabrizio Romano.
The Old Trafford club appeared to be closing in on the England star in April but with the Whites securing Premier League survival on the final day of the season, and now Manchester rivals City entering the fray it looks like Erik ten Hag’s side are an unlikely destination.
It appears hope remains that the boyhood Leeds fan will stay at Elland Road for the upcoming season (2022-23), although the attentions from the champions cannot be overlooked as the Mirror recently suggested the club would “reluctantly” accept an approach and the player would find it too good to turn down.
But for the red side of the city it doesn’t look like it would be an especially fruitful endeavour.
Romano writes in his Caught Offside column: “Man United explored Kalvin Phillips’ situation more than a month ago, but it is another difficult negotiation for the player’s will and because Leeds United dream of holding onto him again, meanwhile Man City have entered the race.”
Unrealistic
A couple of months has made all the difference with regards to potentially losing the talismanic midfielder to the other side of a heated rivalry.
When the club were in serious danger of returning to the Championship, and the then-Ralf Rangnick side still looked likely to qualify for the Champions League, it seemed like they might be able to prize the 26-year-old out of Elland Road almost against everyone’s will.
In the end neither ended up happening which means that despite the arrival of new man ten Hag it looks unlikely that Phillips will be wearing red in Manchester.
The presence of Premier League champions City on the other hand remains a worry, as they have the money, the European football, and the venerated Pep Guardiola in charge.
It has been months now that the prospect of a new contract at Leeds has been a going concern, with potential relegation and an agent change among the reasons why nothing had been done.
Now it may be money that’s the issue after Dean Jones suggested the club wouldn’t be able to pay him what he is worth without the investment from the 49ers takeover.
That is still some months away, so if the delay is financial it leaves a very inviting door open for one of the richest teams in the league to march through.
The “dream” that Romano refers to is still alive without an actual approach from the Etihad but the language used does make it seem a somewhat remote prospect at this stage.
In other Leeds United move, the club have pulled off a major coup by beating off opposition to a deal for another summer signing.