OPINION
It’s set to be a big week for Leeds as they close in on a big-money deal to secure Kalvin Phillips on a new long-term contract.
According to Football Insider, the four-year contract, worth £2m-a-year, is now with respective lawyers, who are making the final checks before it’s signed.
That comes after Leeds chief Angus Kinnear said Leeds were “very close” to a new deal for Phillips in an interview with the BBC.
Kinnear also said that the wage bill at Leeds has been steadily increasing under owner Andrea Radrizzani and that it’s moved from that of a mid-table side to one that can finally deliver the club back to the Premier League.
This latest financial commitment from Radrizzani is another big statement of intent from an owner who has completely turned the club around.
Bielsa has transformed Leeds and Phillips
Marcelo Bielsa was the catalyst for change and his arrival sparked a transformation from Kalvin Phillips, from an attacking midfielder who scored seven goals in the 17/18 season, to one of the most prized defensive mids in the Championship.
According to the Guardian, Bielsa was on £2m-a-year when he signed with Leeds and Radrizzani is now set to green light another £2m-a-year investment for Phillips.
The Leeds wage bill has already increased from £20.7m to £31.4m according to Financial Football News and, if he signs, Phillips will now join Kiko Casilla and Patrick Bamford as the club’s biggest earners.
Kinnear also talked about the possibility of new investment in Leeds but added that Radrizzani was looking for non-disruptive partners who shared his vision for the club.
It’s never been harder to run a Championship club in a sustainable way and win promotion – the EFL investigations into the stadium sales of Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Reading are the latest proof.
But Radrizzani’s vision ends with promotion back to the Premier League and, two years into his five-year plan, it looks like he’s perfectly on track for success.