Aston Villa are reportedly planning to make a move for Kalvin Phillips this summer should Leeds United get relegated to the Championship.
Leeds United have endured a miserable campaign, and following a series of poor results sacked Marcelo Bielsa last month. Jesse Marsch has replaced Bielsa but oversaw a 1-0 defeat to Leicester City in his very first game in charge of the club followed by another deflating 3-0 defeat against Aston Villa. With the Whites currently sitting one point clear of the drop zone having played the highest number of games among their relegation rivals, the next few months look ominous for the club.
According to The Athletic, Aston Villa are ready to pounce on Kalvin Phillips if Leeds United fail to maintain their top-flight status. The central midfielder has been discussed by the Villa board, and is wanted by manager Steven Gerrard and his coaching staff, the report adds.
Phillips, 26, has missed large chunks of the ongoing season with a hamstring problem, managing only 12 Premier League games so far. The England international’s presence in the middle of the park has been sorely missed by Leeds, although, he is now close to returning from a lengthy injury layoff.
Kalvin Phillips to Aston Villa—The right move?
Aston Villa are targeting a top-half finish this season under Steven Gerrard. There have been a lot of positives since Gerrard’s arrival at Villa Park and the club will hope for a strong finish to the season after somewhat losing their way in the last two months.
After the January arrivals of Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho from Everton and Barcelona respectively, Gerrard is expected to be backed in the summer transfer window as well. Signing a central midfielder appears to be a priority, with Villa lacking depth in that position. Furthermore, there will be question marks over Marvelous Nakamba’s fitness after his steady progress was halted by a knee injury in December.
Thus, the Lions’ interest in Kalvin Phillips makes sense. Phillips is the sort of player Gerrard would love to have in the squad due to his tenacity, aggression, drive and passing ability. A player in the mould of a midfield destroyer, the Englishman can ping balls left, right and centre, shield the backline and help control the tempo of the game.
A tough tackler, he never hesitates to stick a foot out to stop the opposition from advancing and has high energy levels to cover every blade of the grass for his team. Due to his reliability in possession and reading of the game, Phillips would instantly raise Aston Villa’s quality in midfield. The 26-year-old would add depth to Gerrard’s squad, whilst being a straight upgrade over Nakamba.
Regardless of what Leeds’ position is at the end of the season, Aston Villa must launch a swoop for Kalvin Phillips. All in all, the England international would appear to be a tailor-made addition if the Villans can persuade him to join.