Angus Kinnear has said that Leeds are “very close” to securing Kalvin Phillips on a new long-term contract and fans are delighted.
Kinnear was talking on BBC Radio Leeds on Wednesday night when he delivered the positive update.
“He is at the heart of what we want to achieve,” said Kinnear before adding, “I think we are very close”.
Football Insider reported on Thursday that Leeds would announce a new deal for Phillips worth up to £8m within days, adding that the club had reached an agreement in principle with the player and his agent Kevin Sharp.
Fans are absolutely thrilled with the news and rightly so – Phillips has been a big part of the Bielsa revolution at Elland Road and a new deal will give the whole club a boost.
Here are the best reactions on Twitter:
Please oh please oh please stay, Kalvin pic.twitter.com/D928lXM6by
— Galilea (@7january1610) September 4, 2019
Deserves whatever deal he gets, never known a young lad at Leeds improve like he has, so calm on the ball and his passing is out of this world and he’s still young, imagine him in 5 years time…….????????????????????????????????????????????????????
— Robert James (@Robertkas86) September 4, 2019
Phillips has come up through the youth ranks at Leeds and was playing in a more advanced role before Marcelo Bielsa took over.
He scored seven goals in the 17/18 season, a number he’s unlikely to reach again if he stays in the defensive mid position he’s been playing in under Bielsa.
He’s been a revelation there, arguably the most improved player since Bielsa came into the club, and when he looks back at his career he’ll know how lucky he was that the Argentine spotted his potential.
As one fan said, “Never known a young lad at Leeds improve like he has… and he’s still young. Imagine him in five years’ time”.
Great new Adam. He is irreplaceable at how we play.
— Barrie Worsnop (@gillroydmor) September 4, 2019
“Irreplaceable” – that’s how this fan described Phillips and the real fear over the summer was that Phillips would be tempted up to the Premier League with Aston Villa, the team that was most closely linked with a move.
It didn’t happen, with Leeds digging in and refusing to sell for a price they considered under his market value and now it looks like he’ll be at Elland Road until 2023.
Sweet Jesus it’s happening
— Jake (@Jake_H_Williams) September 4, 2019
Until there is white smoke over Elland Rd I cannot celebrate #lufc
— Stuart Weinstock (@StuartWeinstoc1) September 4, 2019
The heart beat of the team
— brian mcmahon (@bpmcm) September 4, 2019
Sometimes the best way to express yourself on Twitter is via a GIF and this one probably best sums up what the mood will be like in Leeds when Phillips’ new deal is announced.
https://twitter.com/BarneyStuart21/status/1169298395913236482
However, you can’t please all of the people all of the time. One fan, obviously worn down over the years just said, “Oh dear. So when is he leaving?”
If he signs his new contract and stays until the end, not until 2023.
Oh dear . So when is he leaving
— Tez (@Tez81480387) September 4, 2019