Aston Villa will reportedly push to sign Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips this summer with the Englishman reportedly valued at £60m.
What’s the story?
According to The Telegraph, via Birmingham Live, Villa manager Steven Gerrard will push to sign the 26-year-old this summer, although a deal is expected to be complicated to complete.
The homegrown Leeds star, whose contract at Elland Road expires in 2024, has requested to sign a new deal at his boyhood club with the midfielder reportedly on £38k-per-week.
Moreover, the West Yorkshire club looking more likely to avoid relegation to the Championship this season with an eight-point advantage over Watford in 18th.
Jesse Marsch’s side have been without the England international for large spells of the season with the midfielder making just 13 Premier League appearances this term.
However, having returned to action from the bench in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Southampton, the Whites look likely to have the incredibly popular Phillips available for the remainder of the season as they look to ensure survival.
Aston Villa must swoop for Phillips
Having already been heavily linked with a move for Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma, it’s clear that Johan Lange will be looking to add to their midfield ranks this summer.
The regular trio of John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz have impressed this season, particularly 20-year-old Ramsey who has come on leaps and bounds this campaign.
A product of the West Midlands club’s youth setup, the youngster has made 28 Premier League appearances this campaign, scoring six goals and registering one assist.
Contrastingly the Englishman made 22 appearances in the top flight during the entirety of last season and didn’t manage to find the back of the net.
However, there is certainly room for competition with 18-year-old Carney Chukwuemeka progressing up the ranks whilst Morgan Sanson could leave Villa Park this summer and Marvelous Nakamba is still yet to return to first-team action after a knee injury picked up in December.
Phillips has caught the eyes of numerous clubs over recent years, even when down in the Championship, and could be set for pastures new in the near future.
Described as a “destroyer” by former England manager Steve McClaren, the defensive midfielder has quickly become an England regular, winning the 2020/21 England men’s player of the year, particularly for his efforts at the European Championship last summer.
In the Premier League last season, the 26-year-old averaged 65 touches per game whilst also making 1.2 key passes, according to SofaScore.
Moreover, Phillips enjoyed an 85% passing accuracy and averaged 2.6 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 1.7 clearances per game with the colossus a vital presence just in front of the defence for Leeds and now England.
Villa are looking to progress and part of those plans will be to invest heavily on ambitious signings during the summer and there’s no doubt that bidding £60m for the Englishman would be a seriously ambitious move.
Many would suggest that the 26-year-old, nicknamed the Yorkshire Pirlo by the Leeds faithful, may have now outgrown his boyhood club. However, there’s no doubt that if Villa, or any other club, are to lure him away from Elland Road, it will take a serious offer.
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