Manchester City are keener on England international Kalvin Phillips than Liverpool ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Athletic report that the strongest interest in the Leeds United anchorman is from the Etihad Stadium, although there is optimism he could stay.
The Times say that Phillips is understood to be one of City’s top two targets ahead of the window and their business this summer will extend beyond landing Erling Haaland.
That is despite reported interest in Phillips from Liverpool as they seek to go one better next time around after finishing as runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League.
City keener on Phillips than Liverpool
The Athletic report reads: “The nature of the next three months could be influenced by interest in Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips — the firmest coming from Barcelona and Manchester City respectively — but holding onto a Premier League place put Leeds in a considerably stronger position to demand high fees.
“The club remain quietly hopeful, meanwhile, that Phillips might sign a new contract and give them another year.“
The Times added: “City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has said that they will sign two more players this summer in the wake of landing Haaland. Although Al Mubarak did not mention them, City’s top two targets are believed to be Kalvin Phillips and Brighton left back Marc Cucurella.
He said: “I can confirm that there will be more players coming in. We are looking to strengthen in the areas we need strengthening. I anticipate we will be doing a couple more. We will try to go as fast as we can but it depends on the market.”
It would delight Leeds fans if Phillips spent his career at Elland Road. He is an ‘amazing‘ player, according to Jose Mourinho and plenty of others would agree.
But City are challenging for everything there is to win and moving there would be far less acrimonious than joining Manchester United, which has been mooted.
It would also be better from a purely football perspective for Phillips, playing under one of the world’s best managers, but it seems that he could still yet sign another Leeds deal.
Staying in the big time has handed Leeds more bargaining power, as the Athletic report says, and we will wait to see how this one plays out.