Raphinha Leeds United
Leeds United

Kalvin Phillips is set to become one of the most sought-after midfielders because, after Manchester United and Manchester City, Gerrard’s Aston Villa have joined the race to sign the 26-year-old, according to The Telegraph.

Declan Rice will be the no 1 midfield target for multiple clubs this summer but West Ham United have put an enormous price tag on his shoulders and this is the main reason why some of the clubs have shifted their focus to Kalvin Phillips.

Phillips would have been available for a bargain deal if Leeds United had been relegated but the Elland Road outfit has managed to remain in the Premier League so they will want to hold onto him.

Are Aston Villa serious contenders for the midfielders?

Steven Gerrard is planning to bring in some fresh faces during the summer and according to pundit Paul Merson, Phillips will be a great signing for the Villa Park outfit.

Paul Merson has said: “I don’t think (Kalvin) Phillips is too good for Aston Villa. It’s a massive football club and Villa would be an unbelievable move for him. He would be playing under one of the greatest English footballers of our generation.”

Gerrard has managed to stabilize the No 10 role by signing Philippe Coutinho and next on his agenda is to bring in a defensive midfielder. It’s very hard to claim that Villa have a better chance at signing the Leeds United man ahead of the two Manchester clubs but they will surely not give up without a fight.

Which club will Kalvin Phillips choose?

Recently, Rio Ferdinand had declared that Phillips will have to have nerves of steel to be able to leave Leeds United and join their arch-rivals Manchester United so Erik ten Hag’s side are surely not the favourites to land him.

United will obviously go all out to try and sign the defensive midfielder but Phillips will think long and hard before becoming the next Alan Smith.

Villa can use the glitzy signing of Coutinho to try and persuade Kalvin Phillips but if Manchester City put in a serious bid then Steven Gerrard’s side will be helpless.

Guardiola wants Kalvin Phillips as the long-term replacement for Fernandinho and a chance to play for the Premier League champions will be very hard to resist for the England international.

Read: Man United and NUFC fall out of the transfer race to sign this 22Y/O forward.

Read: Erik ten Hag talks about the future of three Man United players.