Kalvin Phillips has emerged as the new target for Manchester United to bolster their defensive midfield position. However, former Red Devils centre-back and football pundit Rio Ferdinand has advised Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips against signing for the Old Trafford-based club.
Leeds United are in deep trouble at the moment and are currently in the relegation zone. Sacking Marcelo Bielsa in the middle of an underwhelming campaign ravaged by injuries and replacing him with American manager Jesse Marsch has only made things worse and their fate of survival is currently out of their hands.
If Leeds do end up getting relegated several of their players are likely to depart Elland Road and clubs in England and abroad are keeping a close tab. One of the players who is likely to be on the way out is star defensive midfielder Kalvin Phillips who has already cemented himself in the England international squad.
United have been heavily linked with the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ over the past few weeks and are likely to make a move for the 26-year-old this summer with incoming new manager Erik ten Hag looking to secure the defensive reinforcements in his midfield.
It is an area of the park where United have suffered in recent seasons. They had been hell bent on signing Declan Rice but West Ham United’s asking price of over 100 million euros has put off interest from nearly every club. As a result, Phillips has emerged as the best alternative to his England teammate Rice.
The United midfield is likely to get even weaker following the departures of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard who are all set for a move this summer.
However, Leeds United and Manchester United share a historic rivalry and only six players have made moves between the two clubs, including Rio Ferdinand’s infamous expensive transfer. Ferdinand also believes that the circumstances are very different from the situation he found himself in 2002 when he moved to Old Trafford in what was then a record 29 million pounds transfer.
‘I don’t think Kalvin Phillips is a name that should be associated with Manchester United.
‘I just think he’s a Leeds boy. The rivalry between the fans, he’s family are all there. It’s different to when I left, I had no family in Leeds other than my cousin.
‘It wasn’t a problem for them. It was very different. I don’t see Kalvin Phillips going to Manchester United. If he does it will be the biggest surprise,’
Ferdinand told his Vibe with Five YouTube channel.
