Leeds United more open to Man City approach for Kalvin Phillips than Tottenham for Harry Kane
Manchester City’s attempt to sign Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips will not be the same as their Harry Kane chase last year according to BBC Sport.
The Premier League champions want the United midfielder to replace the outgoing Fernandinho but have yet to make a formal approach.
Pep Guardiola wanted the to sign England captain Kane last summer but was frustrated by Tottenham’s steadfast refusal to let him go, which is apparently not likely to be the case this year.
BBC Sport’s Simon Stone says: “With Leeds securing their top-flight survival at the weekend, it will not make a move for Phillips easy, although City are unlikely to encounter the same stubbornness from Elland Road as they experienced with Tottenham around their pursuit of Harry Kane 12 months ago.”
Why not?
All the signals coming from Phillips so far have indicated that he wants to stay to at the club for the immediate future.
The main barrier to that was the prospect of relegation, since an international regular is unlikely to spend a year in the second tier.
But after the dramatic final day win over Brentford secured top flight status, there should be nothing in the way of him being given a new contract.
Unless he suddenly decides he wants to go to the Etihad in a way that he wasn’t apparently moved by the reported interest from across Manchester at Old Trafford, then stubbornness should be there.
West Ham appear to have pre-empted a summer rush on Declan Rice by suggesting all season that they would follow the Daniel Levy model and rebuff anything lower than astronomical bids.
So, assuming boyhood Whites fan Phillips is still committed to the club, as he appeared to be earlier this month when talking to BBC Leeds’ Adam Pope, then they should do the same to make sure he remains.
The doubts that shrouded all future plans up until Jack Harrison’s injury-time winner in the capital have been removed, and the decision makers should be proactive in making sure there isn’t a similar season next year.
If they have viewed Phillips as a key asset to raise money all along then maybe that’s where the lack of “stubbornness” would come from.
But as a local and a fan-favourite they would be better off tying him down to a new contract for as long as he’s happy to stay and build the team around him.
In other Leeds United news, Whites boss Jesse Marsch has spoken to American radio and slammed the reactions to his ways in England.