Some of the foremost English clubs are being linked with Kalvin Phillips but according to pundit Stephen Warnock, the midfielder should stay put at Elland Road.
Manchester United and Manchester City hold heavy interest in the England international and according to Daily Mail, teams like Liverpool and Spurs are also sniffing around. He’s being viewed as the cheaper alternative to Declan Rice as West Ham United want a fee of around 140 million pounds for their most prized asset.
Leeds United might have avoided relegation but they are bracing to lose some of their best players. They need to rebuild and for that, they will have to cash in on some of their star players. However, Warnock has told Phillips not to leap at a transfer because the World Cup is just around the corner.
“Kalvin Phillips is a very interesting one,” said Warnock on the Football Show on Sky Sports. “He’s got the World Cup coming up and he’s got interested suitors, which is understandable because he’s an outstanding player.
“If he stays at Leeds, then he plays every week and he’s the main man. Then he goes into that World Cup probably a shoo-in to be in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
🚨 Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips has emerged as Manchester City's top summer target as they look to replace the outgoing Fernandinho.
(Source: Daily Mail) pic.twitter.com/JBXNkADF0d
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) May 24, 2022
“If he goes to another club, and it doesn’t work out for whatever reason, system, form or not settling, and he doesn’t play, then his World Cup squad place is in doubt.
‘And that’s a big decision you have to make. That will be a tough one for him.”
Should Kalvin Phillips avoid a transfer during the summer?
There’s obviously a fierce fight for the midfield positions in the England squad but if Phillips remains at Leeds and if they end up having another subpar season then Southgate won’t shy away from pushing him down the pecking order. The Three Lions boss has plenty of options in that position(Henderson, Ward-Prowse etc) so any poor performer will be shunned to the bench.
It’s true that at teams like Liverpool and Manchester City the 26-year-old will find it hard to break into the first XI but Manchester United and Tottenham really need a player like him.
📞 Congratulations to Kalvin Phillips who is named in England's latest squad for the Three Lions' UEFA Nations League fixtures next month. #lufc pic.twitter.com/fNM3SKKkEK
— Leeds United News (@LeedsUnitedYEP) May 24, 2022
At Man United, Kalvin Phillips will automatically be the first-choice defensive midfielder while at Spurs, he will get the chance to play in the Champions League next season.
It remains to be seen if he is ready to join Leeds’ arch-rivals Manchester United but if a club like City or Liverpool come calling then the 26-year-old will be more than ready to pack his bags.
It’s no doubt a risk changing clubs just months before the World Cup but to be very practical, this leap in the summer can define the next five years of his club career.
