Amid recent speculation regarding Kalvin Phillips’ future at Leeds United, a late failed bid this January could very well have an impact on the club and boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Phillips’ future at Elland Road has very much been up in the air in recent years. There were reports linking him with moves away as far back as 2019, whilst in the window just gone, there were suggestions that West Ham United were willing to pay as much as £55m for his services.
Leeds United managed to get through the window with him still part of the squad, but for how much longer is a different matter.
According to his agent Sharp, as quoted by The Daily Star, he could very well be at the club for a long time to come, as he claims a new contract could very well be on its way from the club.
He said: “Kalvin was pleased that Leeds turned those offers down. He has never asked to leave Leeds in all his time with the club and has no intention of doing that now or in the summer.
“But I understand the offer that was turned down would have been a record for both buying and selling clubs. So I would hope that Leeds would honour their promise of a new contract for him, which would then end any unsettling speculation about his future this summer.”
A message sent to the other clubs
A new contract would certainly send a message to any club that might be looking at making a move for Phillips this summer.
If Leeds were to tie down the 26-year-old for the long term, even though his current deal isn’t set to expire until 2024, it would either put clubs off the idea of signing him, or they would have to pay through the nose – likely more than the £55m that West Ham offered – in order to make Leeds even think about moving him on.
Either way, he is a pretty big asset and someone who has been described as the ‘lynchpin’ of the side, so he’d be very well protected from Leeds United’s end if they were to agree on a new deal.
Bielsa could stick around a little bit longer
Will Bielsa be at Leeds next season?
Yes
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Perhaps the biggest impact of this could be felt by the man in the dugout. With Bielsa’s contract only until the end of the season in the latest of his one-year deals, it’s not a guarantee that he will be at the club beyond the end of the season.
However, given Phillips’ importance to the team, added to the fact that in 2019, it was reported that Bielsa wanted to make him ‘central to his plans’, it does give the hint that if the midfielder stayed, it might just tempt Bielsa to stay beyond this year as well.
Whether or not that ends up being the case, we’ll have to wait and see, but a new deal for Phillips could prove a pretty significant bargaining chip when it comes to talking about Bielsa’s contract at the end of the year.
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