According to the Athletic, a summer move for Leeds United sensation Kalvin Phillips will be more difficult than previously thought by the hierarchy at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City are reportedly planning plenty of summer acquisitions after earning their fourth Premier League championship in five seasons with a 3-2 victory against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The club will bid farewell to club captain Fernandinho, who is anticipated to return to Brazil, while the fates of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, and Ilkay Gundogan, all of whom are in the final year of their contracts, remain unknown. The Citizens are rumoured to be looking for a dynamic, box-to-box midfielder to boost their ranks, with Frenkie de Jong, Declan Rice, and Paul Pogba all linked with a move to the Etihad.
Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips has emerged as a significant target for the six-time Premier League winners in recent weeks, with Manchester United also thought to be interested in signing the England international ahead of the new season.
According to recent reports, Manchester City have chosen Phillips as their top priority to replace Fernandinho, who just signed off after a spectacular nine-year stay at the Etihad Stadium by winning his fifth league title. However, a prospective arrival for Phillips in Manchester has been delayed by Leeds’ Premier League survival on the last day of the season, according to Sam Lee of The Athletic.
The Yorkshire club are confident of holding onto their academy graduate this summer and to extend his current deal which expires in 2024. Apart from the Manchester clubs, Arsenal and Aston Villa are said to be seriously interested in signing the 26-year-old.
Author’s verdict
The transfer fee Leeds are demanding is around 80 million pounds which won’t be a problem for the deep pockets of Manchester City. Pep Guardiola has been backed every season and this will be the case this summer too.
Having already wrapped up the transfers of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez for a combined fee of less than 90 million, there’s certainly enough room to accommodate Phillips. Guardiola’s playing style would suit perfectly the Leeds midfielder but his playing time might be limited due to the tremendous form Rodri has been in the recently concluded campaign. Jesse Marsch would want to hold on to his star midfielder but time will tell whether Guardiola gets his man or Marsch succeeds in persuading Phillips to stay.
