BBC Radio Leeds pundit Noel Whelan has claimed that Kalvin Phillips could be one of three young Leeds United players who could be a wanted man in the summer transfer window.
Phillips, 23, has enjoyed a stellar season at Elland Road this season but unfortunately his and the club’s campaign ended with defeat to Derby County in the play-offs.
Whelan reckons that the defensive midfield could attract attention in the summer due to the type of player he is and how important he has been in Leeds’ side under Marcelo Bielsa.
“They’ll be looking at [Jamie] Shackleton, they’ll be looking at Jack Clarke. They’ll be looking at Kalvin Phillips for sure because he’s playing in a position which is one of this which is a discipline position which is needed by successful clubs,” Whelan told West Yorkshire Sport Daily on Friday [27m30s].
“He sticks to his game, he does everything right, he’s improved, he’s matured and he’s coming into an age now where he’s only going to get better.”
Whelan added: “He’s a different type of player. He’s that one, that cog, that allows the flair players to go and do their job.
“He sits there, he’s the unsung hero, but without him we’re susceptible to breaks. He stops everything going, he just makes it tick.”
OPINION
Leeds should be braced for a lot of offers for their young stars in the summer, especially Phillips, who has had an amazing season and developed into quite the player under Bielsa’s leadership. The 23-year-old made 46 appearances across all competitions for the Whites this term and is widely seen as one of the most important players in the club’s push for promotion. Phillips has definitely shown the ability to play in the Premier League and while it remains to be seen if a top-fligh club comes in for the Leeds-born midfielder, he cannot be blamed if he does pack his bags and leave Elland Road. Out of any player at Leeds, he is probably the one where people would unanimously agree that he could play in the Premier League. He’s not at the level of the top-six but he could certainly do a job for teams in the bottom-half of the table or play a squad role for this in the mid-table mix.