According to an update in the last 48 hours from Football Insider, Aston Villa have submitted an official bid for Kalvin Phillips.
The Lowdown: Phillips eyes Leeds exit
The 26-year-old has played for his boyhood club ever since graduating from the Whitesâ youth system, where heâs worked his way up through the ranks to become one of the most highly-rated players in Jesse Marschâs starting XI.
Even though he still has two years remaining on his current contract, the midfielder has reportedly been eyeing up an Elland Road exit for some time, regardless of whether or not the Yorkshire outfit would have avoided relegation from the Premier League.
There has been plenty of interest in the maestro from multiple top-flight clubs, predominantly Manchester City and Manchester United, but following a fresh update, it looks as though two more teams have joined the race for his signature.
The Latest: Villa submit bid for Phillips
In a new article published by Football Insider, itâs claimed that Villa, alongside West Ham, have both âsubmitted bidsâ and have tried to secure Phillips by âtabling offersâ, but look likely to miss out on his services thanks to Pep Guardiolaâs side.
The report states that a recruitment source has told the website that the Leeds number 23 is âexpected to completeâ a ÂŁ50m move to the Etihad in the coming weeks, with his âheart setâ on joining the English champions.
The Verdict: Long-term target
Having previously sealed deals for the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Diego Carlos, Villa are right to go into the summer window with the confidence that they can attract the most sought-after players, but City is clearly too big of an opportunity for Phillips to turn down.
The 23-cap international, who was once described as a ârockâ in midfield by Andrea Pirlo, has been a long-term target of the Midlands outfit, with former manager Dean Smith reportedly holding talks with him over a potential move back in 2019.
However, if he rejected a move to Villa then, youâd imagine that he wonât accept one now when heâs got a club like City knocking on his door, meaning that Steven Gerrardâs hunt for a new addition in the middle of the park goes on.
