Leeds United are reportedly aiming to offer Kalvin Phillips a new contract amid interest from West Ham United and Aston Villa.
According to The Times, Leeds United are weighing up a new deal for Kalvin Phillips. The local lad is facing an uncertain future at the club, especially amid Leeds’s struggles in the Premier League. Many expect the midfielder to leave at the end of the season if the Whites fail to retain their top-flight status.
West Ham are already considering a fresh offer to sign Phillips in the new season after having their initial bid in January rejected. However, it appears Leeds United are planning to fend off interest from other clubs, like Aston Villa and West Ham United, by offering the player a new deal. His current deal at Elland Road expires in 2024.
A native of Leeds, Phillips has a strong bond with the club due to his local roots. He has been a member of the club’s youth academy since 2010 and has racked up a total of 226 competitive appearances for the Yorkshire giants.
The 26-year-old’s performances have been critical behind Leeds’s rise to prominence in recent years under the tutelage of former head coach Marcelo Bielsa. It does not come as a surprise that the club have struggled to keep up the same level of consistency this season without the services of their reliable midfielder, whose campaign has been marred by injuries.
Phillips’s injury issues, though, has not deterred West Ham United. It appears the Hammers have identified the Englishman as a potential replacement for Declan Rice, who, in turn, has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Aston Villa are another club involved in the race to sign the Leeds United midfielder. Some reports even rate them as the front-runners in his pursuit, though they are set to face stiff competition from West Ham, as well as traditional giants such as Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United.
However, it appears they could face strong resistance from Leeds United in the pursuit of Phillips. The Whites are determined to keep their local boy beyond the summer, and with the team doing rather well under Jesse Marsch, it won’t be surprising to them retain their top-flight status next season, which could serve as a massive boost in their hopes of tying the midfielder down to a new contract.