Leeds United midfielder Calvin Phillips has emerged as a transfer target for cash-rich Newcastle United.
The 26-year-old England international played an important role in Leeds United’s promotion to the First Division in 2020 and their subsequent 10th place finish at the table. He also starred in England’s march to the Euro 2020 final last summer, forming a strong partnership with Declan Rice in midfield.
However, Calvin Phillips has been limited to just 12 Premier League games this season due to a hamstring problem that plagued Leeds United’s 2-2 draw with Brentford on 5 December. Despite his season being hit hard by injury, the midfielder remains one of the best. The most popular peacock origins.
Aston Villa leads the race for Phillips’ signature and is now ready to show Up to £60m to sign in the summer transfer window. West Ham have also been linked and could introduce European football to the 26-year-old next season.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United have improved a lot since Eddie Howe’s arrival in November and now find themselves 14th in the table, nine points off the relegation zone. They may have had back-to-back defeats to Chelsea and Everton in the Premier League, but Newcastle are looking aside with proper structure and identity, something they lack under Steve Bruce’s management.
Newcastle United were the busiest club during the January transfer window, signing up to five players. New signings have gone a long way towards helping the club move away from the relegation zone.
After the forgotten first few months of the season with Toon’s army teetering at the wrong end of the table, Eddie Howe managed to turn the club’s fortunes around. The English tactician’s first priority will be to achieve the magic 40-point mark with nine matches on hand before transfer plans are in place.
Calvin Phillips has become a reliable player in the Premier League and his progress has not gone unnoticed, with Manchester United and Liverpool also linked with him. Aston Villa are in the driving seat of their signature, as coach Steven Gerrard looks forward to midfield reinforcements.
Newcastle United is also a fan of the English scheme. The Magpies need a player with Phillips qualities due to the absence of a reliable midfielder in their first-team squad. Isaac Hayden has been unlucky with injury this season, while Bruno Guimarães is an unproven commodity. With Jonjo Shelvey entering his thirties, Toon’s army will need reinforcements in their midfield division, making Phillips a viable target.
A strong midfielder like Phillips could well fit into Eddie Howe’s system of energy and high pressure and become an essential member of the squad for years to come. A strong campaign end and a long-running project at St James’s Park could tempt the Leeds star to join Newcastle, although Aston Villa remain exciting.
I’m Rohan Sengupta from India’s busiest city, Mumbai. A journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I cannot live without, writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24/7.
