Kalvin Phillips is reportedly prepared to commit himself to a new contract at Leeds United amid interest from Manchester United and Liverpool.
According to Daily Mirror, Manchester United and Liverpool have been handed a major blow in their hopes to sign Kalvin Phillips. The Leeds United midfielder has been one of the most sought-after midfielders in England this year, with many expecting him to move on from Elland Road at the end of the season.
However, it appears Phillips has no intention to leave his boyhood club. He has informed Andrea Radrizzani he wants to sign a new deal in the summer, one which could include a significant pay raise from his current £25,000-a-week contract that expires in 2024.
It could serve as a massive blow for Manchester United, who had identified the Englishman as one of their top targets in the summer. With Paul Pogba leaving the club at the end of the season, it is no secret that the Red Devils are in the market for a new midfielder who can offer stability in the middle of the park.
Manchester United have explored the possibility to sign Declan Rice, but the West Ham United ace is set to cost a fortune. It has compelled them to set their sights on Phillips, although Leeds United were also expected to hold out for a sizable fee for their experienced midfielder.
Apart from Manchester United, their arch-rivals Liverpool are also on the hunt for Phillips this summer. The Reds are looking to add more youth exuberance in the middle of the park, as the reliable trifecta of Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, and Fabinho are all heading towards the final phase of their respective careers.
Liverpool will have to prepare for life without veteran star James Milner as well, thus accentuating the need for a new midfielder that can prove to be the beating heart of the team’s midfield unit in the years to come.
At the age of 26, Phillips could have been an excellent option due to his technical and positional sense in midfield. But with the Englishman set to remain at his boyhood club, Liverpool will have to set their sights elsewhere.
As for Leeds United, the Whites will hope to retain the services of another star player in the form of Raphinha. The Brazilian has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, with the player himself keen on making the move to Camp Nou. It will be interesting to see whether Leeds’s survival in the Premier League convinces him to change his stance come the summer.
