Aston Villa boss Dean Smith was annoyed that his side didn’t sign Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips last year, according to the Daily Mail.
Villa went after the Leeds midfielder soon after they were promoted to the Premier League, but ultimately did not force through a deal for the 24-year-old.
Villa transfer chief Jesus Garcia Pitarch reportedly felt that there was better value elsewhere, with the claret and blues bringing plenty of players in from around the world.
However, Smith had wanted a more domestic based approach with Phillips in his sights.
Villa did manage to stay in the Premier League, but their transfer dealings only had mixed success, and Pitarch has now lost his job.
If Smith had been given more control over transfers it is claimed that Villa would have pushed even harder for the Leeds man, which could have proven very problematic for Marcelo Bielsa’s men.
It worked out perfectly for Leeds in the end though, as Phillips was integral to helping them to promotion to the Premier League.
Villa now look to have missed out on their chance of signing Phillips, as the Leeds academy graduate will surely be determined to stay and help the Whites out in their first season back in the top flight since 2004.
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