Kalvin Phillips willing to extend Leeds United journey
By Joel Edkins
Kalvin Phillips is said to have committed his future to boyhood club Leeds United amid rumoured interest from higher-ups in the Premier League.
As reported by the Mirror, Phillips has told Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani of his desire to sign a new contract come the end of the season.
The 26-year-old’s current deal isn’t set to expire until the summer of 2024, after signing a five-year extension in 2019, worth £25,000 a week.
Leeds are rumoured to have rejected bids of up to £50m for the academy graduate, who has attracted the attention of Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa, among others.
Speaking to the Daily Mail last year, Phillips said:
"“I just want to focus on getting back fit, but I speak to the owner regularly. I want a new contract. I’m very happy here.”"
If it was the England international’s intention to sign a new contract the previous year, it begs the question, why hasn’t one been tabled before now?
Injuries may be the answer, with Phillips enduring another campaign plagued by a struggle for fitness.
His country’s Player of the Year for 2021, Phillips has been recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained in December last year, forcing him to miss over 100 days of match action.
Injuries to both his shoulder and calf forced spells on the side-lines of almost a month respectively last season, potentially owing to Leeds’ reluctance to commit to further investment.
The latter seems unlikely considering the deep-lying midfielder’s importance to his boyhood club’s journey from the Championship to the Premier League, ending a 16-year absence.
Phillips’ unavailability was cited as a causal factor in Marcelo Bielsa’s demise and eventual sacking as the Lilywhites’ boss, with his all-encompassing nature crucial to his former manager’s daring approach.
“Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Diego Llorente have all trained this week and will currently be available to play minutes against Southampton next week,” recently arrived head-coach Jesse Marsch stated on Thursday.
Before adding in regard to Phillips and club captain Cooper:
"“They’re both in contention to start, they’re both probably not 90 minutes but we’re close. I don’t think we can start both of them but we’ll think very carefully. I’ve spoken with both already and they’re feeling good and looking better. We’re really excited to have them in the group. They can have a massive impact.”"
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Leeds face Southampton in their first game back after the international break on Saturday, as they look to build from back to back victories over Norwich and Wolves. Their Premier League status next season still not set in stone.