Manchester United ‘considering £50m move for Kalvin Phillips’ this summer

Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a £50million move for Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips this summer. 

The central midfielder is becoming a household name in English football after his starring role in England’s rise to the Euro 2020 final last year and he has often been linked with a move to one of the Big Six clubs in the Premier League.

United are looking to bolster their midfield options this summer while bracing for the departures of Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard – and the 26-year-old has been identified as a target by chiefs, the Athletic claims.

Phillips has not been able to produce too many standout displays this season with his Leeds side battling against relegation, but United have still been impressed by his ability to dictate play and dominate possession, and have began ‘exploring’ a possible move for him, the report adds.

The Red Devils are yet to make a formal approach to their local rivals, it says, and are yet to speak with the player directly either. 

Incoming boss Erik ten Hag will arrive at the club this summer and will want to have a big say on transfers, but Phillips is a player that United have been casting their eye over for a number of years. 

Phillips has long had admirers at United, who gained their attention during Leeds’ 3-0 win over Salford City in the League Cup in 2019, when Phillips demonstrated his ability to control the midfield in front of United’s former assistant Mike Phelan.

Erik ten Hag will become United’s next boss in the summer and will have his own shortlist 

United have long admired Phillips after being impressed by his ability to control the midfield

One slight concern ahead of a possible move, however, is that Phillips, his family and his friends have all grown up as massive Leeds United fans, which could make travelling down the M62 a tough ask for him. 

United and Leeds have a fierce rivalry, with their clashes known as ‘the Roses derby’, originating from the historical conflict between Lancashire and Yorkshire, and there has often been serious trouble when the two sets of supporters clash. 

Former Leeds striker Alan Smith famously promised he would never join United due to his love of the club, before eventually making the controversial switch to Old Trafford in 2004.

Phillips’ team-mate Patrick Bamford cast a doubt over the possibility of his pal moving to join Cristiano Ronaldo and Co after claiming his family ‘hate United’.

‘All his family hate (Manchester) United,’ the striker said before their last game against the Red Devils. ‘They’re probably telling him, “Make sure you tell the lads how big and crucial this game is”. One of them where the rest of the season, while being important, this game is the main focus.’ 

But Phillips is a lifelong supporter of United’s rivals Leeds, which could be a sticking point 

Phillips currently has a contract at Elland Road until 2024 but is not one of the top earners at Leeds and has not made any progression on an extension, the report continues. 

And it also comes at a time where Phillips is looking to join a new agency – which could play a part in his future. He has been on the books of Palm Sports Management for many years, but his deal with the group is ending this summer.

Stellar Group – a powerhouse in the football agency world that secured Jack Grealish a £100m move to Man City – is a leading contender to pounce and take him on, the report goes on, though the situation is ‘up in the air’.