It’s reported Kalvin Phillips has a release clause written into his contract that allows him to leave Leeds United this summer if the club aren’t promoted.
Phillips signed a new five-year deal with Leeds earlier in the season, which is said to include this buy-out option.
Football Insider reports that it is the region of £20m. Although former Whites and Sheffield United midfielder, Michael Brown, claims it’s higher.
“It’s more than that. Much more, yes,” Brown said.
“The fee that they might have to pay will still be a little bit borderline for clubs to take but I think he’s developing well enough that someone could think; ‘Do you know what? I think he could be the real deal.’
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“You look at some clubs, they’re paying £20m at the top of the pitch for players coming out of the Championship but for a midfield player, it’s a really big call to go over that figure.”
These claims from Brown have since been disputed by Phillips’ agent, Kevin Sharp, who wrote on Twitter:
Not true,and certainly no one knows any detailed clauses within any of my players contracts.
— kevin sharp (@KPS29) February 17, 2020
Should Sheffield United renew interest in Leeds ace Kalvin Phillips?
(Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
The Blades were said to be keen on signing Phillips last summer following their promotion to the Premier League. As it was, nothing materialised, and the 24-year-old put pen to paper on a new long-term deal at Elland Road.
Yet interest remains in Phillips from the top flight, with TEAMtalk reporting Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers are keen. The Express adds that Manchester United are also keeping tabs.
A Leeds academy product, it is Phillips’ dream to play in the Premier League with his boyhood club. Which looks likely as things stand, with Marcelo Bielsa’s team currently in the Championship promotion places in second place.
But if, like last season, they miss out on going up, should the Blades consider making a move for Phillips again? If reports are to be believed, they are in the market for a new central midfielder with a scout being sent to watch Olympiacos’ Mady Camara in action against Arsenal in the Europa League next week.
The South Yorkshire will seemingly face stiff competition. However, that was also the case with Sander Berge, who made his club record move to Bramall Lane during the January transfer window.
Phillips is a rising star in the game and is being tipped for an England call-up before too long. The Blades’ position would be potentially boosted by qualifying for Europe for next term – a likely prospect with them sixth in the table at the moment.
