Former Manchester City star Trevor Sinclair has claimed that he has been left surprised by Manchester United not making a play to sign Kalvin Phillips from Leeds.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Friday (h/t HITC), Trevor Sinclair has claimed that he was left bemused by Manchester United not pushing to sign England midfielder Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United in the summer transfer window.
A product of the Leeds academy and a boyhood Whites’ supporter, Phillips has grown leaps and bounds since breaking into the first-team a few years ago. His rise under Marcelo Bielsa, especially, has been steep, as he has quickly established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, breaking into the England national team as well.
Phillips even went on to play a key role in the Three Lions’ run to the finals of the UEFA Euro 2020. And, Sinclair, who previously played for Manchester City, has claimed that he was surprised to see Manchester United not making a push to sign the 25-year-old in the recently concluded summer transfer window.
Manchester United were on the lookout for a new defensive midfielder and were, indeed, heavily linked with a move for Wolves’ star Ruben Neves. But a move did not materialise, with the Red Devils deciding to bolster their attacking and defence with the signings of Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Tom Heaton.
And Sinclair has claimed that Phillips is ready for a step up in his career, while insisting that Manchester United’s lack of interest in the Englishman left him surprised. “I think Kalvin Phillips is ready. If Leeds do not really pick up this season and start threatening the top four, I think Kalvin Phillips will go.
“I am actually quite surprised that Manchester United didn’t have a look at him,” he added.
With Fred looking dodgy in the first few games of the season and Scott McTominay out injured, there is a feeling that Manchester United missed out on the opportunity to add a midfielder to their ranks this summer. And Phillips, who has been linked with the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid, would have been a fine addition.
Given his strong ties with Leeds and the rivalry between the two clubs though, it would have been interesting to see how Phillips would have reacted if an offer from Manchester United had come through. For now, the England ace will stay put at Elland Road and hope to help the Whites improve on their finish in the last season.
