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Kalvin Phillips affordable for Manchester United as incoming manager set to eye up Leeds United star
Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips is an “affordable” option for incoming Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag in the summer, according to The Mirror.
The newspaper reports via their print edition today [14 April, page 54] thatMan United have identified four positions they want to add to in the summer and one of them is the midfield.
It is understood that 26-year-old Leeds ace Phillips, Wolves’ Ruben Neves and Leicester’s Youri Tielemans are all seen as options that will fall within Man United’s budget.
The Athletic reported on 12 April that Man United have agreed a deal in principle to hire ten Hag as their new manager with the Dutchman expected to pen a four-year deal at Old Trafford.
Affordable?
Man United must have a lot of money to burn this summer if they deem Phillips as an affordable transfer target.
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On 3 April, The Telegraph reported that Aston Villa were prepared to pay £60million for the England international in the summer transfer window.
If that’s the case then Leeds will easily value Phillips higher than that for Villa and will no doubt push the price up even more for rivals Manchester United.
Phillips is unlikely to want to go there anyway.
The Sun journalist Alan Nixon reported on 8 April that it “would be difficult” for the Red Devils to prise Phillips away from Elland Road due to his life-long support for the Whites.
Phillips is easily one of the most important players at Elland Road and it will take a mammoth offer to even consider selling to him Manchester United. Just imagine the reaction from the fans if that’s a deal that happens.
We don’t expect to see Phillips bid farewell in the summer anyway.
Raphinha might go but we fail to see why Andrea Radrizzani would sanction exits for both the Brazil international and Phillips.
Leeds need to be moving forward each season. Selling both star players in one window would be a massive backwards step.
In other Leeds United news, one Whites player seems to be worse off under Jesse Marsch than he was under Marcelo Bielsa.