According to the Mirror, Tottenham are interested in Kalvin Phillips and may have to battle Liverpool for his signature. The 24-year-old has impressed for Leeds United in the last 12 months and is being linked with a ‘£50m transfer scramble’, but it remains to be seen if we’ll be the ones signing him for that price.
How good is Phillips?
He’s highly-rated. Phillips has made 182 appearances in all competitions since rising through the youth ranks to Leeds’ first-team, scoring 12 goals with 11 assists. Phillips’ form at club level has led to him representing England on three occasions, so his rise to prominence hasn’t gone unnoticed.
This season, he’s made five Premier League appearances, created 10 chances, completed 82.8% of his 268 passes, won 4/16 aerial duels (25%), made 3/6 successful dribbles (50%), blocked 12 crosses/passes/shots,made six clearances, won seven free-kicks, gave away one foul every 112.5 minutes, had two shots with 50% hitting the target, averaged a tackle (17) or interception (8) every 18 minutes and was dribbled past once every 90 minutes.
Phillips is adept at turning over possession, is comfortable on the ball and can create opportunities from midfield too, so he’d provide an all-round threat. Whether we need to splash out so much money to strengthen a position we’re currently overstocked in remains to be seen, however.
Likelihood of us signing him?
I’d say it’s pretty slim. Jose Mourinho has Harry Winks, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Moussa Sissoko, Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso, Dele Alli and Gedson Fernandes at his disposal, so he’s not short of options in midfield. Do we really need another? I don’t think so, and not for £50m.
Phillips signed a five-year deal with Leeds in September 2019 too, so he’s clearly happy to stay at Elland Road and Leeds have no obligation to cash in early. Phillips is a regular for club and country, so his value isn’t likely to drop any time soon.
Personally, I think we’re better off sticking with what we’ve got. Unless we sell an existing midfielder, we don’t need to add Phillips to this squad. Daniel Levy has said we’re not blessed with lucrative funds for new arrivals, so Phillips would be far too pricey.
In other news, how did Gareth Bale fare on his Tottenham return?