This summer has been one of mixed emotions for Leeds United and their supporters, with the capture of Helder Costa from Wolves set to be their most expensive transfer in almost twenty years and the pending possibility of losing one of their cornerstone players.
Kalvin Phillips has been the subject of intense transfer speculation in recent weeks, with Aston Villa being the main protagonist in the developing story, but with the emergence of Wolves and Spurs in the race for the deep lying midfielder, Leeds could need help in their quest to keep the 23-year-old in West Yorkshire.
There is currently a price tag of £30m on the player, with Leeds hoping that this should stave off any serious interest, but the rumours will not go away. The emergence of a story on The Boot Room today may help the Leeds fans a little with there anxiety, with Villa seemingly close to signing a player in Phillips’ position.
The report suggests that Villa are close to signing Douglas Luiz from Manchester City for a fee of around £15m, not a sum to be paid for a substitute, meaning that the Brazilian U23 International may feed The Villains hunger in that position and they would no longer seek a deal for the Leeds man.
This would be another welcome favour from Pep Guardiola, who see’s the Leeds boss, Marcelo Bielsa as somewhat of a father figure and a mentor from his own earlier career, following the Spaniard allowing Jack Harrison to rejoin The Whites for a second, consecutive season.
So will this news help the fans settle down a little in regards to Phillips leaving Elland Road? Or is it still an expected inevitability?
