The transfer plan Aston Villa have to prise Kalvin Phillips away from Leeds United

Aston Villa could be set to offer Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips as much as £190,000 a week to leave his boyhood club and join Steven Gerrard’s revolution in the summer, according to reports.

Midfielder Phillips is towards the top of Gerrard’s summer wish-list as he looks to build on what has been a largely very promising beginning to his tenure and the exciting January transfer window he oversaw. Moving certain players on and pursuing a potential permanent deal will also be among Gerrard’s priorities come the summer, but getting hold of a high class holding midfielder is something he’s already confirmed that Villa are looking at.

Boyhood Whites fan and academy product Phillips, who has made himself a crucial member of the England side who reached the Euro 2020 final and on the back of his contribution earned the Three Lions’ player of the year award for 2021, won’t come cheap. The Times claim that he’ll cost north of £60million, and that West Ham United - at this moment well placed for Europe again - and ambitious moneybags Newcastle are also in the hunt.

Much will depend on Leeds’ league status next term. Phillips has already confirmed that he’s very happy at Elland Road and that he’d be keen to sign a new contract having spoken to owner Andrea Radrizzani about the prospect of fresh terms being offered in the near future. It’s likely, though, that Leeds will still need to be a top flight side for that to transpire.

His current deal in Yorkshire is set to expire in the summer of 2024, an agreement he and his representatives reached with the club while they were still a Championship side and with Villa - then under the tutelage of Dean Smith - keen to offer him an immediate path to the top flight.