Kalvin Phillips has emerged as a transfer target for Manchester United, with The MEN reporting the Red Devils are actively pursuing a move.
A deal would be highly controversial, at least from the Leeds end, with the Yorkshire club hoping that selling their stars to Manchester United is a thing of the past.
Phillips is Leeds born and bred, and while this did not stop Alan Smith.
The Whites appear to be clear of relegation, and they are not in the financial mire as they were back then.
There’s no doubt the England international would be a fine addition if the deal could somehow be struck.
Kalvin Phillips has emerged as a transfer target for Manchester United, with The MEN reporting the Red Devils are actively pursuing a move.
A deal would be highly controversial, at least from the Leeds end, with the Yorkshire club hoping that selling their stars to Manchester United is a thing of the past.
Kalvin Phillips is Leeds born and bred, and while this did not stop Alan Smith, the Whites appear to be clear of relegation, and they are not in the financial mire as they were back then.
This rumour may be a case of United sounding Phillips out publicly to see if he can join the club.
There’s no doubt the England international would be a fine addition if the deal could somehow be struck.
Manchester United have signed the likes of Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith in the past. The trio were successes at Old Trafford, although only the latter was a homegrown player like Phillips.
Smith spoke to FourFourTwo magazine in 2015 and admitted he went back on a vow in the process.
He explained: “I did say I’d never play for Manchester United. I would have booed myself if I’d been a Leeds fan.”
However, He left for financial reasons and told the club podcast in 2020:
“I would have been doing myself a disservice if I took the easy option and didn’t sign for — arguably at that time — the biggest club in the world.”
Phillips, 26, is at a crossroads in his career, and while he may prefer a less controversial option.
He may at least pause to consider the challenge Manchester United may present to him.
Leeds’s current situation is slightly different, of course, stable financially and expected to cash in on Brazilian winger Raphinha. However, we also have to be realistic that this isn’t the all-conquering Fergie era, far from it.
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