Leeds United have managed to keep Kalvin Phillips at Elland Road.
Leeds United fans were delighted to see Kalvin Phillips still at Elland Road when the summer transfer window closed – but they’ll be even happier now.
The Whites confirmed on Monday that Phillips has now signed a new contract with the club, signing a new five-year deal to stay with his boyhood club.
The 23-year-old will now stay until 2024, or at least allow Leeds to charge a huge fee in the future if any clubs come in for him.
Speaking of that subject, Leeds’ announcement of the new contract included a very interesting line, stating that ‘over the course of the summer transfer window, Phillips was subject to high profile interest from a number of Premier League sides, with the club rebuffing multiple offers in excess of £20m’.
Leeds don’t disclose just who that bid came from, but it may well be a hint about Aston Villa, who pursued Phillips over the summer transfer window.
Dean Smith’s side were the team most strongly linked with a move to sign Phillips, with The Telegraph claiming that they had a £15million bid rejected.
It may well be that Villa offered £15million rising to more than £20million, as that’s the biggest offer from any club being reported, and is close to fitting what Leeds claim.
Villa won’t be too frustrated by the news, as they signed two holding midfielders anyway, landing Douglas Luiz and Marvelous Nakamba for considerable cash.
Leeds are now able to keep one of the key players in Marcelo Bielsa’s system, and appear to have fended off Villa for good with the new contract and Smith signing two alternatives in his position.
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