The critical ambition which will sway Kalvin Phillips' Leeds United decision, according to a former Premier League star - YEP 20/5/22
Ex-Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn has warned that Kalvin Phillips' desire to play for England will be foremost in his thoughts in the upcoming transfer window.
By Flora Snelson
The Whites talisman first became a target for Premier League
clubs as he was boosting his boyhood club through their title-winning
Championship campaign of 2019/2020.
But Phillips' value subsequently skyrocketed when he emerged
as a standout performer for England as the Three Lions reached the EURO 2020
final last summer.
Throughout United's persistent struggles in their second
top-flight campaign, speculation regarding the midfielder's future has dragged
on.
This week, fresh reports emerged of interest in the
26-year-old at Manchester City, who are set to lose established defensive
midfielder Fernandinho at the close of the season.
Though Phillips would prefer to remain at Leeds, where he
has played since he was 14 years old, it will be harder for him to progress as
a player against Championship opposition should the Whites be relegated from
the Premier League.
Winterburn explained the significance of Leeds' survival in
Phillips' career, stressing that the player's international career will play a
significant factor in his decision.
"You want to be playing against the best and playing in
the top league all of the time," Winterburn told FreeSuperTips.
"I think I read somewhere that he hasn’t signed a new
deal yet, but where he is and if Leeds go down - it becomes a different
scenario.
"Leeds will have to readjust and see what they want to
do.
"I would think from an ambition point of view, Phillips
will want to be playing Premier League football to try and cement his position
within the England squad.
"If he’s still playing well at Championship level, then
I would think he’d still be in the England squad.
"There will be a few clubs looking and analysing the
situation if Leeds go down, but what will his valuation be?
"It’ll be interesting to see what Leeds value him at
and if anyone would be willing to meet that valuation.
"If Leeds go down, I do think there will be clubs
coming in for him, but at what price I do not know.
