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Leeds United exit for Kalvin Phillips can be made official this week after Manchester City news
Kalvin Phillips’ Leeds United exit can be officially completed this week after Manchester City sold Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal, the Telegraph reports.
The much-anticipated move for the Whites’ England star was announced by David Ornstein in The Athletic on Friday (24 June), for an initial fee of £42million.
The big-money move, although arguably not quite big enough, required some financial dominoes to fall before it could be sealed, but the £45million move to the Emirates for the Brazilian has now opened the door.
The Telegraph report says: “The agreement, and incoming money, also now enable City to officially complete the signing of England midfielder Kalvin Phillips this week, after agreeing a transfer fee of a basic £42 million with Leeds last week.
“Having invested £51 million in signing Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund this summer, City needed to raise money to finance the signing of Phillips – a situation that led to Jesus becoming available.”
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Such is the esteem that Whites fans hold their star midfielder most will be wishing him the best as a City player, although probably not on two specific days in the upcoming season.
As soon as news emerged that the interest from Pep Guardiola was real the mood had turned from a strong hope that the Yorkshire Pirlo would remain at Elland Road for another year to it seeming probable he might move.
At his age and status it is hard to begrudge him a move to the very top of English football, although if he ends up on the bench and becomes just a rotational player it will be a major disappointment for him and Leeds.
The fee frankly doesn’t seem high enough considering who the buyer is, but it appears that perhaps the club compromised slightly in order to allow the 26 year old the move he wanted.
His key role under Marcelo Bielsa in bringing the Whites back to the top flight probably earned him that, although it is slightly galling for those connected to United that one of the richest clubs in the world are the beneficiaries.
The hope will be that there is not a similar situation when it comes to decision time on Raphinha, with the Brazilian potentially also on his way out.
It looks like the first of the two moves will now be wrapped up within days after the multi-million pound exit from the Etihad, so supporters can begin to move on and focus on an incoming replacement.
In other Leeds United news, the agent of one Whites target is reportedly in England trying to secure a move for his client.