Early days, but Leeds United have a player who could light up Euro 2020, but one pundit claims that he wouldn’t be a fitting replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum at Liverpool.
Kalvin Phillips, who is Leeds born and bred, produced a midfield masterclass in helping England to a win over Croatia this past weekend.
The 25-year-old also set up the winning goal – scored by former Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling – and if he carries on like this, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Phillips linked with some huge clubs.
Well, Leeds are already a massive club in English football, but there are bigger and the Reds are one of them.
Speaking on ESPN, Liverpool legend Steve Nicol was asked whether he would be a good replacement for Wijnaldum at Anfield, following the Dutchman’s exit.
But the Scot argued that Phillips is much more of a Fabinho-type player, by virtue of the fact he plays a lot more defensive for the Elland Road club than he does for England.
Nicol told ESPN when asked about him replacing Wijnaldum: “No. I think Phillips, if he is going to replace anybody [at Liverpool] Phillips would replace Fabinho. He did well [against Croatia], he broke forward, he did play a great pass to Sterling but that’s not his game, that’s not how he plays with Leeds, that’s not what he’s used to doing. So that wouldn’t be his job if he was to replace anybody in the Liverpool midfield.”
Is Kalvin Phillips leaving Leeds?
Well, no.
There is zero to suggest that Phillips or Leeds will be thinking about leaving West Yorkshire.
And really, why would you want to leave?
Not only is he playing for his boyhood club, but he’s playing under one of the game’s great coaches in Marcelo Bielsa and he can still get so much better.
Speculation is one thing, but speculation with substance is much less common and although rumours are bound to fly around if he continues to impress at Euro 2020, it wouldn’t mean Phillips himself is thinking about a move away.
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