Danny Mills has said that Leeds United reportedly signalling that they want to keep Kalvin Phillips at the club this summer will be a “huge boost” to the midfielder.
An earlier report [Yorkshire Evening Post] had indicated that the 23-year-old could be sold in the transfer window, but Football Insider have claimed that Phillips will now be offered an extension to his deal, which currently has two years left.
Speaking to Football Insider, Sky Sports pundit Mills said that Phillips will take confidence from the reported contract talks held with Leeds.
“It will be a huge boost to Kalvin Phillips that the club want to keep him and give him a new deal,” Mills said. “He will be thinking, ‘great, the club I love want me’ and, believe me, that really does matter.
“Players want what they are worth, and also want to play week in, week out. If you are a young player and getting good advice from your agent, the aim should be to get as much money as you can from the club you are at and to play every week.
“Phillips might not be a regular starter at a Premier League club, so he could stay at Leeds for another season, improve his game under Marcelo Bielsa and then treble his wages by moving to the Premier League in a year’s time when he is in a better position to play every week.”
OPINION
If this latest report from Football Insider is true, as Mills says, it really will be a massive boost for Leeds. Player power is such a big thing in the modern game, and if there was a cloud surrounding Phillips’ future at Elland Road – a suggestion that he could be sold and the money used to get someone else in – then he might not have put in the same fantastic performances next season as he did last term. Phillips was simply brilliant under Marcelo Bielsa recently, making 42 appearances in the regular Championship season before appearing in both play-off games against Derby County. The 23-year-old was so reliable last season and he even chipped in with one goal and three assists in the second tier. So if this report is true, Leeds fans can surely look forward to seeing more of the same from Phillips, who must have renewed vigour and confidence knowing that he is valued a a key player by his club.