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talkSPORT pundit slams Manchester United over Leeds United sale of Kalvin Phillips
Tony Cascarino believes that Manchester United missed out on a chance to rescue their midfield by signing Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
The Whites secured an agreement with Manchester City for the transfer of the 26-year-old on Friday (24 June).
Cascarino, while talking to talkSPORT, as quoted by Leeds Live, suggested that signing a player like Phillips would’ve been ideal for the other side of Manchester.
“I don’t know why Man United have not made a move on Kalvin Phillips,” said the former Chelsea man. “They may say ‘well we tried to but he’d already decided on Man City’ but he is exactly what Man United need, for me.
“He might not have wanted to go there and that might be the reason but there doesn’t seem to have been any competition for a club that I think sorely needs that type of player.
“I think it’s a huge mistake for their team. A ball-winning player who can keep it and let other players do their thing. He does that as well as anybody.”
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Complete Midfielder
There was interest before Pep Guardiola’s side stepped in but the rivalry between Leeds and the red half of Manchester was thought to be the main stumbling block for a boyhood Elland Road fan, although they certainly could have used him.
As Cascarino said, Phillips is a ball-winning midfielder that can be influential both with and without the ball. He has a tremendous ability to beat the pressing systems due to his passing range.
In the recently concluded Premier League season with Leeds, the England International made 20 appearances, providing one assist. However, he only started 47% of the matches, largely because of fitness concerns [Transfermarkt].
For Leeds, he has been key and was a huge part of the reason why the Whites made it back to the Premier League. Even though he plays as a central midfielder, he can also play as a box-to-box midfielder.
For England, he has formed a formidable midfield partnership with another Old Trafford target, Declan Rice in the middle of the park.
He started every single game for England in the Euro 2020 as the Three Lions went all the way to the final, losing narrowly to Italy.
In other Leeds United news, the agent of one transfer target is in England looking to complete a deal for him.