Aston Villa installed as favourites to complete Kalvin Phillips transfer

If Kalvin Phillips were to leave Leeds United this coming summer, Aston Villa have been named as the favourites to sign him. The England midfielder has been the subject of plenty of speculation recently regarding his future and whether it lies away from Elland Road.

Phillips, who hasn’t played since December for his boyhood club because of a hamstring injury, was named England’s player of the year for 2021 after a sterling showing under Gareth Southgate at the Euros last year. He’s been helpless on the sidelines, though, as Leeds have slid down the table in recent months and into the midst of a relegation fight - though they’ve put daylight between themselves and the drop zone recently with a couple of wins.

Villa are keen on adding to their midfield options in the summer. They’ll most likely part ways with Conor Hourihane, who is currently on loan and whose contract expires at the end of the season, while Steven Gerrard has already made clear his intentions to recruit a quality holding midfielder who can operate in front of the defence.

Phillips would cost north of £60m for any suitor, with Arsenal, West Ham and Newcastle also reportedly interested, though there have been reports recently claiming that Phillips is keen to remain at Leeds once they confirm their top-flight status and he’ll commit his long-term future by signing a new contract.

Should those circumstances change in the coming weeks and months, and Phillips were to leave Yorkshire once the season ends, then Villa have been installed as the bookmakers’ favourites to land him in the transfer window - closely followed by Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are the other sides who make the list with