Andros Townsend has claimed that the £42 million transfer fee Leeds United have seemingly agreed to from Manchester City for Kalvin Phillps is the ‘right amount’, as he told talkSPORT on Monday morning.
At first, the Everton winger felt that the transfer fee was ‘a bit cheap’, but when told that Phillips has two-years left on his Leeds contract, he then changed his mind.
Reports have emerged from the weekend that Phillips is Manchester City bound, with his teammate, Jack Harrison, liking a post about that transfer agreement.
With talk of Raphinha also possibly heading for the Leeds exit door, this transfer, if it goes through, will hurt more than the others because of what the boyhood fan means to the club.
Nonetheless, when discussing Phillips’ imminent departure, this is what Townsend had to say and how much he will play under Pep Guardiola.
“I would have said it was a bit cheap,” said Townsend. “But if you are right in saying he has two years left on his deal, then it makes perfect sense.
“Once you get to two deals left, the power goes to the player. It comes out of the club’s hand. They are then panicking, ‘if we don’t sell him, if he’s unhappy, then we can’t let him get down to a year because his fee is going to half again’.
“So, I think taking all of the things into consideration, then £42 million is the right amount. You would like to think if you spend £42 million, then you are going to be a starter. And Rodri is a top, top player as well.
“It will be interesting to see how Pep uses him and how he fits into the system. You start to think, after spending that sort of money, he goes straight into the midfield.”
PHILLIPS DOESN’T START FOR MAN CITY
It’s understandable why Leeds fans will be annoyed at the club possibly allowing Phillips to leave for such a modest fee, especially when Brighton sold Ben White for £50 million last summer.
The Arsenal centre-back played in that very same Leeds team that earned promotion, yet many would feel Phillips played a bigger role than the ball-playing centre-back.
Yet, after one full season in the Premier League, White was snapped up by the Gunners, as Phillips, both for England and at club level, had played a done more than his former teammate.
Plus, with Phillips and Declan Rice thriving at Euro 2020, and the big numbers being talked about if West Ham sell him, then once again, it’s understandable why fans at Elland Road are frustrated.
However, he only has two years left on his contract, and should be compared to Yves Bissouma, who with one-year on his Brighton contract, left the club for £25 million after his switch to Tottenham.
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