Manchester City expect Kalvin Phillips to push for Leeds United exit
Manchester City have “confidence” that Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips will “push” for a move once a bid is made, according to The Athletic.
The Premier League champions are yet to make a bid for the England international while he has been away with the Three Lions, but are looking to sign the 26-year-old this summer for as little as £45million.
The Whites apparently became aware of “mounting interest from the Etihad” towards the end of the 2021/22 season, as the club battled relegation.
While there was previous interest from Old Trafford on the other side of Manchester such a move was considered untenable by the Leeds native, but he is thought to want to take up the option to make a switch to Pep Guardiola’s side as there as no such rivalry there.
The Athletic’s report says that: “City visualise a closing agreement of between £45 million and £50 million and there is confidence in Manchester that Phillips would push to take up the opportunity to join them if it’s presented.
“City would tick the right boxes. It’s a move Phillips would be open to, and a move Leeds would struggle to resist.”
Powerless
It is looking less and less likely that the club can do anything to stand in the way of this move if their midfield star is set on it.
In contrast to the issues that are plaguing the mooted exit of Raphinha to Barcelona there are no financial constraints at the English champions.
With two years left on his current contract now is the optimum time to cash in on the home-town hero, absent a new contract, which has been on the cards all season but never materialised.
Considering West Ham have an option to extend Declan Rice’s current deal for one season longer than that and have put a £150million price on him, the idea that the Elland Road star goes for less than a third of that amount seems low.
It is hard to see what gets in the way of this transfer happening in the coming weeks at the moment, unless the player suddenly decides to sign a new deal.
But if there is such confidence that he will push for a move once the interest is solidified that seems unlikely, although considering their riches City should be pressed to pay maximum value.
Phillips’ connection to United would surely prevent a messy exit but this is starting to have the look of a foregone conclusion.
In other Leeds United news, the club will reject any offers of part-exchange players in a major transfer deal.