Leeds United have been handed a major boost over Kalvin Phillips as a huge update emerges on his future at Elland Road…
What’s the story?
The England international has been the subject of big interest from rival Premier League clubs in recent weeks, with the likes of West Ham and Aston Villa both said to be monitoring the situation.
But now, it appears Phillips could be ready to commit his long-term future to his boyhood club.
Writing on Twitter, The Daily Mirror’s Northern football correspondent, David Anderson, revealed: “Big boost for Leeds after Kalvin Phillips tells the board he wants to sign a new deal in the summer.”
Huge news for Leeds
Make no mistake about it, more than any new signing Leeds could potentially make this summer, sealing a new deal for Phillips would absolutely top the lot.
The England star is very much Leeds through and through, and having helped the side get promoted from the Championship, has established himself as a Premier League force – that’s not to mention the international recognition that has come his way which saw him become one of the Three Lions’ heroes in their run to the EUROs final last summer.
Speaking last month, former Leeds shot-stopper Paddy Kenny insisted Phillips would eventually put pen to paper on a new deal to stay at Elland Road, saying: “He’s come through the ranks at Leeds. There’ll be a lot of clubs interested in him, but I’m 100 per cent sure they’ll get it sorted.
“These deals have to be right for all parties, but I’m sure it’s something Leeds will be confident they can get over the line. He’s playing a big part in the England setup now, and he’s massive for Leeds. When he’s not in the team they can really struggle. I’m sure this is just the due process of sorting the contract out.”
While West Ham and Aston Villa are certainly big clubs in their own right, neither really genuinely represent a real step-up in class from Leeds – Champions League football has not been on offer for either for a number of years now, while trophies have also been very hard to come by too.
So while Leeds fans may not have been too worried about hearing that it was West Ham and Villa who were interested in their talismanic midfielder, news that he wants to stay at Elland Road for the long-term will have put to bed any lingering fears if there were any.
It’s news that will surely delight Leeds boss Jesse Marsch too.
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