Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa are reportedly eyeing an ambitious move to sign Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips next summer.
According to a report from The Athletic, Aston Villa are keeping close tabs on Leeds United’s progress under new coach Jesse Marsch. Currently dawdling in the 16th position, the Villans are hoping the Yorkshire outfit get relegated in order to be able to sign Kalvin Phillips in the summer transfer window.
Aston Villa are confident they can snap Phillips in a cut-price deal, should Leeds play in the Championship next season. However, if the Whites manage to survive the drop, Phillips is likely to prove too expensive, especially with the club having no intention to sell their star midfielder any time soon.
A native of Leeds, Phillips has been one of the most successful players to come out of Yorkshire in the recent past. Ever since making his breakthrough at Leeds United, the midfielder has made a solid impression with his ability to control games and provide exceptional diagonal passes. He has already racked up 226 competitive appearances for his hometown club at the age of just 26.
Phillips’s performances were indeed vital behind Leeds United’s rise to prominence under Marcelo Bielsa. It even earned him a place in Gareth Southgate’s England side, with the 26-year-old notably helping his nation reach the final of UEFA Euro 2020 last summer.
Kalvin Phillips’s unprecedented success has put multiple clubs on alert, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool reportedly keen on securing his services. It appears Aston Villa have now entered the equation as well, hoping to sign the midfielder on a cut-price deal.
Steven Gerrard’s interest in the Leeds United star stems from his team’s lack of depth in the middle of the park. His main defensive midfielder Douglas Luiz has suffered a dip in form and was linked with a move to Tottenham in January. It won’t be surprising to see the Brazilian leaving the club in the summer.
Phillips, to that end, could be a definite upgrade over Luiz in the number six role. However, irrespective of Leeds United’s Premier League status, winning the race to sign the 26-year-old could be difficult, with the player linked with several other top dogs of English football.
Fortunately for Villa, they have already compiled a list of more realistic alternatives, including Boubacar Kamara of Marseille, who is set to become a free agent in the summer.
