Newcastle United are ready to make a summer move for Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, rivalling Aston Villa in the race for his signature.
That’s according to a new report from the Daily Mail, who claim that Newcastle want to lure Phillips up to St James’ Park this summer.
The report adds that Liverpool and Manchester United both fancy Phillips too, but currently have other priorities in mind for this summer.
That leaves the door ajar for Newcastle and Villa to position themselves in the race for Phillips, though whether Leeds would actually sell Phillips remains to be seen.
Newcastle are unbeaten in nine games, winning six of them in a run that should see them stay in the Premier League now.
With relegation fears now being eased, Newcastle can start to look towards the summer transfer window.
Newcastle will likely splash the cash this summer in an effort to bolster Eddie Howe’s squad, with Phillips now a prime target.
Aston Villa are back in for Phillips having previously attempted to sign him in the summer of 2019.
Dean Smith has gone and Steven Gerrard is in, but that doesn’t mean Villa’s interest has waned.
Gerrard will be a major selling point to any midfielder, but Newcastle’s project – and the riches that comes with it – have to be appealing.
Don’t think for a second though that Leeds would give up their star man easily this summer.
Phillips is Leeds through and through. He’s a hero on the terraces and arguably the biggest success story of the Marcelo Bielsa era.
One of the big problems for Leeds this season has been the absence of Phillips.
Out since early December with a hamstring problem, Phillips has been sorely missed in the Leeds side.
Phillips is their instigator in midfield and the protection for the back four, with nobody quite able to replicate that in the Leeds side, highlighting his importance.
If Leeds go down, it may be hard to keep hold of Phillips. He is simply far too good for the Championship and would likely need Premier League football to keep his England spot.
That may be what Newcastle and Villa are selfishly hoping for, believing they can swoop in and sign the midfielder branded ‘extraordinary’ by Fabio Capello.
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