Aston Villa are eyeing up a move for Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips, who they have been following from his days in the Championship.
A report by The Athletic claims that Phillips is a player who Villa will feel is attainable if Leeds do not manage to stay up in the Premier League at the end of the season.
Aston Villa had moved for Phillips the season they were promoted to the Premier League but the midfielder chose to remain with his boyhood club and helped them gain promotion to the Premier League this season after.
With Leeds currently struggling, it has been reported that the club’s board are talking about Phillips again and manager Steven Gerrard is reportedly interested in having the player on his squad.
Phillips has suffered from injury this season and has missed a large part of Leeds games. His importance to the club is such that Leeds have only won two of the 12 games he has missed so far this season.
This was after his great performance for England in Euro 2020, following an outstanding debut season with Leeds in the Premier League.
Villa are keen on a defensive midfielder with Yves Bissouma also a target for the club. Leeds had previously rejected a move by West Ham for the midfielder in January and Phillips agent, Kevin Sharp, noted that his client was happy that the club rejected the move.
Arsenal are also interested in the midfielder but his agent told the Daily Star that Phillips had instructed him to begin talks with Leeds about an extension of his contract which ends in 2024.
“Kalvin was pleased that Leeds turned those offers down,” Sharp said to the Daily Star.
“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 I understand the offer that was turned down would have been a record for both buying and selling clubs.
“So I would hope that Leeds would honour their promise of a new contract for him, which would then end any unsettling speculation about his future this summer.”
