There has been a lot of talk recently about the future of Kalvin Phillips, but LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross is confident that he will be staying at the club over the summer.
Another exceptional year in which the midfielder has averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.2 and won 2.8 tackles per league game means interest in him is always likely to increase.
Kevin Phillips spoke recently about the 24-year-old, suggesting that his future lies elsewhere due to the talent his possesses, while also implying the club may not be able to keep him due to the likelihood of receiving a “huge bid” for his services.
While it is true that interest in our midfielder is probably impossible to prevent, with Tottenham rumoured to be an interested party, that doesn’t mean he is destined to move, particularly not in the summer.
Could you see Phillips leaving this summer, even with promotion?
Yes
No
Cross supports that view, and pointed to multiple factors that mean Phillips’ stay could be more likely. In a tweet the journalist wrote:
“Relentless Phillips exit talk from ex-pros continued this week. I really can’t see it if they win promotion.
“He loves it here. PL income makes it a lot easier for Radrizzani to turn down the offers when they come.”
It is also worth noting that the academy product only signed a long-term contract in summer 2019, prolonging his stay at Elland Road until 2024.
That means any club wishing to sign him has to be prepared to submit a bid of several million pounds in an attempt to lure him away, as we may also be able to provide him with Premier League football next season.
He is clearly a crucial player for us and his recent suspension evidenced that, as we lost two out of the three games he was unavailable for.
Phillips is a mainstay in the team and has been for almost four years now, while the role he plays in the current set-up is crucial to Marcelo Bielsa’s system, breaking up play with his effective tackling while also putting us on the foot front with 81% pass accuracy and 5.3 long balls per league game.
For that reason alone we will be determined to hold onto him, and as long as Phillips is happy to stay there is no reason for him to depart.