Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips pictured meeting young fans
Kalvin Phillips demonstrated his all round importance to Leeds United when he took time out to meet some young fans last night (9 March).
The England star has been missing from the first team for an extended period this term but was back on the training ground this week as he edges his way back to fitness.
His lack of availability on the field hasn’t stopped him from making an impact for the fans, as he showed why he is such a popular figure at the club by stopping to take photos with some local junior players.
A fan posted pictures on Twitter of the midfielder posing with the youngsters, apparently at their evening training and a number of them in Whites kit, along with the message: “Thank you Kalvin Phillips for making out u11’s night!”
Key figure
As the season has become an increasing disaster the speculation over the 26-year-old’s future has increased.
The prospect of relegation remains real and the chances of a player who has established himself as a first choice in the middle for Gareth Southgate spending a season in the Championship seem slim.
The Athletic this week reported that Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa are preparing an approach in the summer if the Whites go down, and with influential former manager Marcelo Bielsa now gone Phillips may be tempted to move.
Premier League survival could be the key to keeping hold of the boyhood United fan.
A major bid was turned down from West Ham in January, after which his agent was quoted as saying, via The Sun: “Kalvin was pleased that Leeds turned those offers down. He has never asked to leave Leeds in all his time with the club and has no intention of doing that now or in the summer.”
But the contract that he was looking for has not so far materialised, and Football Insider understands that a leading agency has promised to get him a move to Liverpool.
The photos on social media are an illustration of how devastating his exit would be for fans.
He is Leeds through and through so to lose him would be a bigger loss than the other star man projected to leave, Raphinha.
Jesse Marsch said yesterday that he has the international break pinned as when Phillips can make a full return to training, and everyone connected to the club would love to see him continue for a long while yet.
In other Leeds United news, the manager has shared how one Whites star has stepped up behind the scenes in preparation for the run in.