Manchester United suffer transfer setback as Aston Villa push ahead for Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips

According to The Telegraph (Subscription Required), Aston Villa are pushing to sign Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips at the end of the season, providing a transfer blow to Manchester United, who are also keen on the player (h/t Express).

Phillips has played his senior career at Elland Road, becoming a fan favourite after impressing with his performances for the club. He was also a key part of the squad that helped the team win promotion to the Premier League in 2020.

His displays for his boyhood club have also seen him turn out to be a key cog in midfield for the England national team, and he was vital in the Three Lions reaching the finals of the UEFA Euros 2020 held last year.

Evidently, he is one of the best in the business in England. With the Yorkshire club keen on retaining Phillips for a few more years, there have been talks regarding a new contract, but these discussions have not been fruitful.

Club record fee from Villa

Given this, United are interested in bringing the 26-year-old to Old Trafford in the summer. Despite being arch-rivals, Leeds and the Red Devils have conducted transfer business before, with Daniel James recently swapping Manchester for Yorkshire earlier in the season.

However, they are likely to face good competition from Villa, who are prepared to shell out a club record