OPINION
Leeds fans will be desperate to hold onto Kalvin Phillips, one of their standout players last season.
There are complications. While it’s been reported that he wants to stay at Leeds and that manager Marcelo Bielsa sees him as central to his plans, he’s rejected the first new contract offer that’s been put to him, according to Football Insider.
That’s not necessarily a cause for concern. Phillips could still agree an improved deal and it’s unlikely that Leeds’s opening offer will be their last.
There’s more though. Newly-promoted Aston Villa have been linked with a move for the defensive midfielder and there is some concern that Leeds could look to cash in on another asset after selling Pontus Jansson to Brentford.
However, an update from Mirror journalist David Anderson will give some relief to fans.
Anderson claims that Aston Villa’s offer for Phillips is just £11million. He repeats the fact that Leeds don’t want to sell and that they’re only prepared to budge for £30million.
That’s a huge gulf between the two sides and if Leeds hold strong we can’t see Villa upping their bid by almost 300%.
It’s a lowball offer that suggests, for now at least, Phillips is going nowhere.
Aston Villa’s offer for Kalvin Phillips is £11m. Leeds do not want to sell and Villa would have to offer around £30m to persuade them to do business. #AVFC #lufc
— David Anderson (@MirrorAnderson) July 11, 2019