Leeds United fans already knew that this season’s summer transfer window was going to be a ‘difficult’ one for the club to navigate – club owner Andrea Radrizzani told them that much.
However, the following news from Telegraph writer John Percy could very well upgrade it beyond a window of ‘difficulty’.
#avfc are launching a £14m bid for Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips. One of Dean Smith’s top targets for the summer https://t.co/9qGnvTq0Wl via @telefootball
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) June 12, 2019
The importance of Kalvin Phillips to Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United side cannot be underestimated. He’d had a difficult campaign under Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom in 2017/18, but was rescued by Marcelo Bielsa with many fans wanting him kicked to the side and replaced.
However, what Bielsa has done with the Leeds-born 23-year-old is nothing short of stunning. Like Jesus curing Lazarus, Bielsa has brought him forth as a ball-playing defensive midfielder. He’s that vital tumbler for Bielsa at the base of his midfield and that lock in front of the defensive backline.
Of all the players brought on by Bielsa in his one season in charge, the change in Kalvin Phillips is likely the most startling. He’s changed, nay improved, him to such a degree that transfer interest was bound to come at some point this summer.
There was mooted interest from certain sources about ‘Premier League interest’ but that has been firmed up somewhat by John Percy’s news, above. It is news that, whilst possibly expected, has definitely gotten Leeds United fans buzzing over Twitter.
With Phillips being so integral to the side and style of play that Bielsa has instilled at Elland Road, then you’d expect this level of commentary on Twitter. Here’s what some of them are saying about this breaking news.
Villa ready to pounce with £14m bid for Kalvin Phillips – fan reactions
If we are going to keep our players Radz needs to forget about adding to his £550 million fortune and sell to someone willing to keep our best players instead of going backwards every transfer period.
— John kennovin (@JKennovin) June 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/BillyKeville/status/1138924750217076736?s=20
Then we may as well pack it in forget promotion. You can’t get rid of players like that and win. Not only would we lose the lynchpin of Bielsa’s system, but it sends the exact wrong message to the other players and foments a culture of defeat and failure.
— Michael L. Maynard (@MaynardM) June 12, 2019
£14m 😂😂😂😂😂😂
— Connor Mahoney 🔍🔍 Bielsalona! MOT (@ConnorMOT92) June 12, 2019
Money talks but 14m when they want 60m for Grealish think they want to double it at least b4 we even talk
— prem ken Brown Leeds support Ukraine 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 (@kennybrown1964) June 12, 2019
My thoughts exactly. He took him under his wing as soon as he came last year. He's integral to the way we want to play. Irreplaceable for me
— Lee Grayson (@LeeGrayson) June 12, 2019
More than likely if they want him and offer near 20m he will be sold I think, bad move for us as we can’t replace him for that amount, price you pay for not being premier League, could be an awful window if phillips, jansson and Clarke go.
— corbywhite (@gandalflufc) June 12, 2019
