According to The Sun, Manchester City and West Ham United look all set to miss out on the signing of Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
Leeds might have avoided relegation but rumours are ripe that they are preparing to lose some of their biggest stars and Phillips was supposed to be the first one to head out of the door with some of the biggest clubs interested in him.
However, Man City and the Hammers are likely to remain empty-handed because Leeds United are convinced that the England international is going to sign a new contract.
His current deal expires in 2024 and he’s supposedly told Leeds that he wishes to stay and is ready to put pen on paper to a new deal.
Is this a major blow for Manchester City and West Ham United?
Manchester City were eyeing Kalvin Phillips as a replacement for Fernandinho but missing out on the Leeds man will not be a big problem because Pep has Rodri as his first-choice defensive midfielder.
Rodri has been excellent and since Guardiola is looking for a backup defensive midfielder, he will very easily find someone – if not Phillips. If Pep does miss out on the Leeds United man, he will not be losing too much sleep over this.
However, West Ham United are likely to part ways with Declan Rice in the summer and someone like Kalvin Phillips would have been the ideal replacement.
📰 Reports suggest that Kalvin Phillips has made it clear to the club's hierarchy that he wants to remain at Leeds United this summer.
Time to get the contract out, Victor Orta… 👀#LUFC pic.twitter.com/zUhX0an2Zz
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) June 1, 2022
Rice will likely be sold for a major fee and Phillips would have come at half of his transfer price. Also, Moyes wants to sell Soucek as well due to a deterioration in their relationship so even if Declan Rice remains at the club, Kalvin Phillips would be a necessary signing.
Is Kalvin Phillips making a mistake of his lifetime?
Phillips has played 234 games for Leeds since his senior debut in 2014 and right now he is at the peak of his career plus not every day do teams like West Ham or Manchester City come calling.
We understand his love for Leeds United and this was the reason why he refused a move to Manchester United very early on but he should have jumped at a transfer to City or even West Ham.
Leeds United narrowly escaped relegation this time around so it will take a lot for them to get back into the top-six or even the top-eight hence the 26-year-old should have been practical and taken the next step forward in his career.
