Ex-Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has warned his former side that they face the departures of Kalvin Phillips and Ben White should they fail to win promotion this season according to Football Insider.
The Whites have enjoyed a good start to this Championship season and currently lie in third position and just two points behind league leaders West Bromwich Albion.
However, Whelan believes that if they fail to win promotion once again then not only will manager Marco Bielsa leave, then two big names may also follow him out the exit door.
“Kalvin and Ben White will be the first to leave,” Whelan said. “Obviously, Ben’s on loan from Brighton and any chance of signing him permanently will be over if we don’t go up.”
“He’s too good to be in the Championship for another year and he’ll be in the Premier League next season, whether that’s for Brighton or someone else.”
“Kalvin’s contract is based on promotion. He has a release clause allowing him to go for a set price – more than £20million – if we don’t go up.”
There has already been plenty of speculation regarding the futures of White and Phillips with Liverpool looking to table an offer of around £20million for the Brighton defender in January in a bid to lure him from Anfield.
Phillips has recently signed a contract extension but with a release clause of more than £20million, it has meant that clubs are on high alert for the midfielder should Leeds remain in the Championship for another season.
The Yorkshire based club are desperately hoping that they can successfully win promotion this time around and ensure they have a much better chance of retaining their star players for at least another season.
