According to the Daily Mail, Manchester City have put Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips at the top of their list of potential replacements for Fernandinho.
The Brazilian midfielder has played his final game for the Premier League champions, and City may have a hard time replacing their club captain.
Indeed, there aren’t many players in world football who can match Fernandinho’s ability as a defensive midfielder, but City believe that Phillips could be their best bet.
To be fair, we can understand why. After all, he has been labelled as ‘brilliant’ by Jordan Henderson in the past.
Phillips is an energetic and tactically adept defensive midfielder, and his eye for a pass has even earned him the nickname The Yorkshire Pirlo.
Factor in that, much like Fernandinho, he can also do a job at centre-half when needed, and Phillips begins to look like a fantastic replacement for the Brazilian.
Of course, getting Phillips out of Leeds is easier said than done.
The midfielder is a boyhood fan of the Yorkshire club, he’s a local lad who has come through the academy and he’s remained incredibly loyal to the Elland Road outfit.
On the other hand, Manchester City are one of the richest and most successful clubs on the planet, and it would be incredibly hard for any player to turn down a move to Pep Guardiola’s side, especially as they can offer the chance to compete for a Champions League title.
This will be an interesting saga to follow heading into the summer. The England international might have a massive decision to make in the coming weeks, and if City come calling, it may be tough to turn Pep Guardiola down.
Leeds are keen to tie Phillips down to a new contract, but the allure of joining the Premier League champions may be too much to resist.
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