Incredible backing for Gerrard: Journo says Villa ready to break the bank for Euro 2020 maestro

Aston Villa are willing to smash their transfer record this summer to sign Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United, The Times‘ Jonathan Northcroft has reported.

Villa tried to sign a defensive midfielder in January but were frustrated in their attempts to do so. They were strongly linked with Brighton’s Yves Bissouma, who was valued at £50m, and Rodrigo Bentancur, who went on to join Tottenham Hotspur.

Strengthening in that department is clearly one of the club’s main objectives heading into the summer transfer window.

Phillips, who hasn’t played in the Premier League since December as a result of a hamstring injury, is under contract at Elland Road until June 2024.

Northcroft wrote in The Times that Villa are ready to shell out £60m to persuade Leeds to part with Phillips. That would nearly double their existing transfer record outlay of the £33m (potentially rising to £38m) that they paid to sign Emiliano Buendia from Norwich City last summer.

In addition, they are offering Phillips an ‘enormous’ salary package in the region of £10m per year, equating to around £190,000 per week.

Newcastle United and West Ham United are both interested as well, but Villa are thought to be leading the race at this moment in time. The 26-year-old is regarded as a key piece of the puzzle as Steven Gerrard looks to assemble a squad capable of challenging for Europe next season.

Villa are leaving no stone unturned whatsoever here. In addition to the transfer fee, a £190,000-per-week wage would make Phillips the highest-paid player at Villa Park by a full £70,000 (ahead of Danny Ings).

Furthermore, as per Spotrac, he is only thought to be earning £4,500 per week at present under a contract he signed while Leeds were still in the Championship, so