Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United are considering a £50m move for Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the summer
According to The Athletic (Subscription Required), Manchester United are considering making a move for Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the upcoming summer transfer window ahead of their expected squad rebuild.
With a new manager coming in at Old Trafford at the end of the season, the Red Devils are looking to usher in a new era of trophies and success by having a shake-up of their first team and seeing a lot of activity in the transfer window in terms of incomings and outgoings.
One possible target they have identified is Phillips, who has been a shining star for Leeds as they battled their way from the Championship to the Premier League. His performances in the middle of the pitch have caught the attention of their arch-rivals, who are looking to solidify their midfield.
United have even scouted the 26-year-old, watching him rise from an English second-division player to a full England international in the space of a few years. He is now an important part of Gareth Southgate’s side and was crucial to the team’s run to the final in the 2020 UEFA Euros.
United exploring ways to sign Phillips
With current first-team regulars, Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba both set to leave the Theatre of Dreams in the summer, strengthening the midfield has become a top priority. It has been a weak link for several years, with the Manchester side missing a defensive screen – something the Leeds man can provide.
The Red Devils are said to have begun exploring ways to pull off a transfer move for the Englishman via intermediaries, with the Elland Road favourite valued to be around £50m. However, no official or even direct contact has been established between the two clubs or the player himself.
Ever since the retirement of Michael Carrick in 2018, the Old Trafford side have lacked a midfield lynchpin capable of setting the tempo of the game and shielding the defence from waves of opposition attacks.
Matic is the only natural defensive midfielder in the squad, and with his confirmed departure at the end of the season, we will be short of an important role in the team to fill. Scott McTominay has tried his hand at the position, but he has miles to go before claiming it as his own.
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Phillips is tried and tested in the Premier League and has gained experience playing at the international level for the Three Lions. His role in Yorkshire has been reduced this season due to injury, and the Red Devils can offer him a fresh start and an even bigger platform to showcase his talent.
Having risen through the ranks at the academy and coming from a family of die-hard Leeds fans, it will be hard to imagine Phillips putting on the jersey of the club’s arch-rivals. There exists a fierce rivalry between United and Leeds, and it remains to be seen if that will be a big turning point in this proposed transfer.
