Norwich City are ready to make a move for Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, it has been claimed.
According to Daily Mail, Leeds United are poised for a raid from Norwich City for their star midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Manager Daniel Farke is keen to add more quality to the side following their promotion to the Premier League.
As a result, the Canaries are plotting a £12 million move for Phillips, who could leave Leeds in favour of a move to the English top flight.
Kalvin Phillips: Right choice by Farke?
Phillips has been an ever-present figure at the base of Leeds United’s midfield in the recently concluded season. He featured in 42 league matches and was critical to Leeds’ success that saw them reach the semi-final of Championship promotion play-off.
The 23-year-old provided extensive defensive cover for the backline, having averaged over 2.6 tackles per game during the 2018/19 campaign. His willingness to win back possession for his team coupled with his aggression has already made him one of Championship’s most effective defensive midfielders.
Additionally, the Leeds United midfielder is capable of switching the play with his accurate long-passes, thus easing the transition of his team. He also attained a pass completion rate of 82%, which is more than decent given the nature of his game.
Hence, Phillips could prove to be a smart addition for Norwich City. Despite having a stacked midfield department, the Canaries will be needing a new defensive midfielder given the increased competition and intensity in the top-flight, who can provide competition for both Alexander Tettey and Tom Trybull.
At the age of 33, Tettey is already nearing the final phase of his career. As for Trybull, he has very little experience in English football, having played just over 50 matches in the Championship as we head into the new season.
Phillips, in contrast, has been a regular for Leeds United for the past couple of seasons. He has also notched up as many as 128 appearances in the Championship while his industry and work-ethic in midfield could make him a tailor-made fit in the physically demanding nature of the Premier League.
Another key aspect of Phillips’ game is that he can offer versatility as he can also feature as a centre-back. This could always prove to useful for Farke, even though the German will have at least four central defensive options next season.
For a fee of £12 million, he will be a smart addition for the Canaries.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored