Pundit hints "excellent" £60m star would prefer to join West Ham over Aston Villa

West Ham United stand a good chance of beating Premier League rivals Aston Villa to the signing of Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips, according to Carlton Palmer.

The summer transfer window is fast approaching and it appears Phillips is set to be in demand ahead of next season getting underway.

According to The Times, Villa are leading the race for Phillips’ signature and are willing to part with as much as £60million to prise him away from Leeds.

The report suggests the Midlands club’s boss Steven Gerrard has identified the 26-year-old as a key target as he looks to upgrade his squad and Phillips, who has previously been described by England manager Gareth Southgate as ‘excellent’, is in line to be offered a deal worth in the region of £10million-per-year.

It comes after West Ham United jumped to the front of the queue during the January transfer window, with them even testing Phillips’ current employers’ resolve with a £50million bid.

Although the east Londoners were frustrated in their efforts to strike a deal midway through the campaign, it is understood that Hammers chief David Moyes ‘loves Phillips for his skill and industry’ and has plans to pair him in the heart of midfield with England team-mate Declan Rice.

West Ham and Villa will need to meet Leeds’ demands if they want to lure the 19-cap Three Lions international away from his boyhood club as there is still more than two years remaining on Phillips’ £38,000-per-week contract.

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Palmer has hinted that Phillips could find a move to West Ham more attractive than heading to Villa Park.

The former England midfielder feels the Hammers’ progress under Moyes, which has seen them challenge for a