West Ham United plot ‘enormous’ bid for Manchester United target and Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips
According to Football Insider (h/t Yorkshire Evening Post), West Ham United are apparently willing to make a bid in excess of £50million to sign Kalvin Phillips, who has also been on the radar of Manchester United in recent times.
The enigmatic midfielder became a pivotal part of Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa. He also received his call up to the England squad for the 2020 UEFA Euros after the Whites put up a phenomenal display last season going toe to toe with some of the top clubs in the Premier League.
The 26-year-old has had to deal with nagging injury issues in recent times and his unavailability has meant that the Peacocks are hovering around the relegation zone. It is believed that the club views their prized asset in the region of £60-70 million.
Aston Villa were thought to be frontrunners for securing his services until recently but the Hammers could gain the upper hand if this latest development holds any merit. While Manchester United were in the fray, it would naturally be tough for any move to take place considering the fierce rivalry between both clubs.
That being said, quite a few players in the past have gone on to join their arch-rivals in a bid to further their future prospects, which is why such a notion though unlikely shouldn’t be completely ruled out until the foreseeable future.
The midfield at Old Trafford
The Red Devils have struggled to assert themselves in the middle of the park on several instances this season. While the Mancunian club does possess options like Fred and Scott McTominay, their performances have blown hot and cold over a significant period of time and one can argue that United can upgrade in this part of the pitch.
The Brazilian has become more of a prominent figure under Ralf Rangnick but both he and his Scottish teammate lack serious competition for starts in the middle of the park. The former Shakhtar Donetsk man has, however, impressed in recent times under the German manager in a role which allows him more freedom to attack.
McTominay has struggled with nagging injury issues which have been a grave obstacle in building momentum. Nemanja Matic has been deployed in that defensive midfield role on occasions but at 33 the club could do well to add another younger replacement to future proof that position.
Donny van de Beek is out on loan at Everton and that naturally shows where he is in Man United’s pecking order right now. Paul Pogba, on the other hand, is almost certain to leave this summer with his contract running out.
Kalvin Phillips is a hardworking midfielder who has really hit his peak under the tutelage of Bielsa. Not only is he adept at tackling and breaking up play but his ability to wriggle out of tight spots and carry the ball a fair distance makes him a great option to have in most team’s ranks.
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Whilst the English midfielder could potentially help us add quality and depth in our midfield, his affiliation with the Whites could taint our chances of landing him. However, Dan James’ recent move to Leeds shows that there is a line of communication between Old Trafford and Elland Road.
This coupled with the willingness by West Ham to shell out the big bucks could mean that the club may have to look out for other alternatives in the coming transfer windows- if they seriously do want to strengthen this position on the pitch.
