In a fascinating turn of events, Aston Villa have reportedly moved into pole position to snatch Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips away from Elland Road in the summer.
The Villans are keen to move back into the European places, and have made no secret of that ambition through lavish spending since Jack Grealish left the club in the summer of 2021. However, midfield is an area that they could be preyed upon by bigger clubs. Both Douglas Luiz and John McGinn have been linked with moves away from Villa Park, with Arsenal and Manchester United just two rumoured destinations.
And, as per the Times, they have identified Kalvin Phillips as the man to fill any potential gaps, with Steven Gerrard’s side ready to splash out £60 million on the England international. Meanwhile, they are also reportedly ready to offer a salary of around £10 million a year in their bid to add him to their top 6 challenge.
Aston Villa have emerged as frontrunners to sign Kalvin Phillips this summer and are ready to pay a £60 million transfer fee, plus an enormous salary, to prise the England midfielder away from Leeds United, reports @JNorthcroft https://t.co/wy0LVGvbA2
— Times Sport (@TimesSport) March 20, 2022
Villa bare ambitions
Speaking after his side’s 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal, Gerrard made no attempts to hide where his ambitions lay in the years to come.
“I don’t think teams like Arsenal are a step too far”, the former Liverpool legend told BT Sport at the end of the game “But there is a gap we need to close. We are working on that.”
The signings of players previously courted by top sides like Kalvin Phillips would certainly help bridge the gap in that regard, and if they could lure him to the midlands it would represent a major coup for Gerrard and Aston Villa.
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