Aston Villa are among the favourites to sign Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to a report from Football Insider.
The lowdown: Phillips a wanted man
As the Yorkshire club face the threat of relegation from the Premier League, Phillips remains hot property following a breakthrough 18 months at the elite level.
Having helped guide Leeds into the top flight, the 26-year-old was outstanding whilst earning a 7.21 Sofascore rating during the 2020/21 campaign, winning 5.3 duels, making 2.6 tackles and completing 41 accurate passes on average per match.
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Despite struggling with an injury-hit campaign this time around, Phillips has still been heavily linked with a move away this summer, with West Ham United seeing a bid rejected in the January transfer window.
The latest: Villa in the mix for Phillips
As per a recruitment source at Football Insider, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are believed to be ‘leading the race’ to sign Phillips.
It is claimed that both clubs have made the 19-cap England international a ‘top target’ for the upcoming transfer window and have already begun the required ‘groundwork’ to make a deal happen.
The report added that Manchester United are ‘also keen’ to sign the 26-year-old, who was hailed as ‘phenomenal’ by former Three Lions manager Fabio Capello during a standout Euro 2020.
The verdict: Make it happen
So far this season, Phillips – currently a one-club man – has made 22 appearances across all competitions for Leeds, scoring once and providing one assist.
Predominantly a defensive-minded midfielder, the combative Englishman boasts an array of impressive attributes including tackling, blocking and interceptions (WhoScored), which makes him the ideal man to bolster Steven Gerrard’s squad should ownership group NSWE sanction a big-money move.
Indeed, his average of 2.7 tackles per game is the joint-second highest at Elland Road, which highlights the steel he offers in the middle of the park.
Having had the chance to assess the current playing staff since his arrival at Villa Park, Gerrard is expected to shake up the ranks over the summer. As such, the likes of midfield duo Marvelous Nakamba and Morgan Sanson could be on their way out of the Midlands, potentially making room and indeed providing funds for Phillips’ possible arrival.
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