Football Insider can exclusively report that Kalvin Phillips has told Leeds United that he wants to leave the club and join Man City this summer.
As they aim to acquire a new central midfielder, the Premier League champions are attempting to entice the 26-year-old away from Elland Road.
Phillips is keen to join City, according to a recruitment source, and has informed Leeds that he wants to leave during this window.
That’s a huge setback for his hometown club, where he rose through the ranks from the young ranks to become the face of their best team in two decades.
Pep Guardiola is a “big” fan of Phillips, according to the source, and has made it known at City that he wants him to be a part of his refurbished squad next season.
A deal for a player who is out of contract in 2024 may cost around £50 million.
Leeds could conceivably keep Phillips on the books, but considering the player’s desire to go, this is unlikely.
manchester city has taken the lead in the race to sign the midfielder as they look for a proven star to replace Fernandinho, who is out of contract next year. Ilkay Gundogan is also out of contract next year.
Aston Villa, West Ham United, Newcastle United, and Manchester United are also interested.
