I think Leeds United fans should get more used to stories like this in the coming weeks of the season given how we fell at the last hurdle when it came to automatic promotion into the Premier League – Bournemouth are being tipped to launch a double raid on Jack Clarke and Kalvin Phillips.
Clarke has been linked with almost every Premier League club this season and Phillips has certainly had his own moments on the rumour mill this year as well, but a report from Football Insider suggests that Eddie Howe would be seriously interested in both – and I can certainly see why he would be – and even the £25million price tag for both (with additional clauses on top) feels more genuine given their relative experience.
The news was picked up by one time England international Stephen Warnock now he works as a pundit and he told Football League World that he felt only one thing would tempt either of them to make the switch, and that is obviously if we fail to win promotion via the Play-Off route now.
“I think if Leeds go up, neither of them will leave. If you’re playing Premier League football for Leeds United, there’s not many bigger clubs within the Premier League. The only thing that will tempt them to leave is if they don’t go up, that’s something that they’ll have to decide on then. Playing Premier League football is what every kid dreams of doing, and they will be no different. Kalvin, especially, is a very good player. He was a good player when I was at the club, but he’s gone up another level under Bielsa.”
Time for the tin hats when it comes to speculation now and we all 99% of it will be utter nonsense.