What Leeds' Kalvin Phillips has said on future amid Manchester United transfer interest

Manchester United are working to sign Kalvin Phillips from Leeds.

The Manchester Evening News revealed on Thursday morning that United have earmarked Phillips as a potential candidate to address their weakness in midfield. Phillips rose to prominence playing in defensive midfield under former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa.

United have prioritised signing a specialist defensive midfielder in the summer and Phillips, 26, could prove to be a shrewd alternative to Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham. United remain admirers of both players, but West Ham value Rice well in excess of £100m and Borussia Dortmund are highly unlikely to sanction an exit for Bellingham in the same summer as Haaland's inevitable sale.

ALSO READ: Manchester United working on Kalvin Phillips transfer.

Leeds are historically United's rivals and the news of the Reds' interest in the midfielder hasn't been welcomed by supporters in West Yorkshire, so what has Phillips and his agent said on his future? The MEN have taken a closer look below.

February 2022

Although West Ham reportedly attempted to sign Phillips in January, Leeds denied there was ever a formal offer for the player. Phillips’ agent Kevin Sharps was asked about those claims shortly after the January transfer window shut.

“Kalvin was pleased that Leeds turned those offers down," Sharp told The Sun. "He has never asked to leave Leeds in all his time with the club and has no intention of doing that now or in the summer.

“But I understand the offer that was turned down would have been a record for both buying and selling clubs. So I would hope that Leeds would honour their promise of a new contract for him which would then end any unsettling speculation about his future this summer.”

December 2021

Leeds