SportsLeeds supporters 'will be devastated' - Paddy Kenny reacts to exit rumours he's hearing
Leeds United supporters would be ‘devastated’ if Kalvin Phillips joined Manchester United, former Elland Road man Paddy Kenny says.
The lowdown
Samuel Luckhurst, Chief Manchester United writer for The Manchester Evening News, reported this week that The Red Devils are ‘working on’ a summer move for Phillips.
They intend to sign a defensive midfielder in the summer and the Leeds man features on their shortlist, along with West Ham United’s Declan Rice.
In the words of talkSPORT’s Sean O’Brien, there’s a long-running ‘feud’ between Leeds and Manchester United, and so it may be particularly hurtful for Whites fans if he makes this move.
Phillips is under contract at Elland Road until the summer of 2024 and is valued at £45million by Transfermarkt.
The latest
Kenny feels that Phillips is in a similar situation to Jack Grealish last summer, who left boyhood club Aston Villa to join reigning champions Manchester City in a £100million deal.
He thinks the temptation of moving to Old Trafford may prove to be too strong for Phillips.
Kenny told Football Insider: “He’s Leeds through and through but we saw that with Jack Grealish didn’t we?”
“He’s Villa through and through but he decided to sign for Manchester City last summer.
“If an offer like that comes in, it might never come again. Can you afford to say no?
“It’s like Lampard at Chelsea. He didn’t know if it was going to work out but that offer might not come again, you have to take it.
“It will be interesting to see if this move happens. The fans will be devastated if he does go.
“As a player, you have to look to the future and Leeds are a big club but Man United are one of the biggest in the world.
“It’s a difficult one to turn down, that’s for sure.”
The verdict
Leeds players have, of course, crossed the divide before. The likes of Eric Cantona and Rio Ferdinand have been lured to Manchester in recent decades.
Even last summer, the two clubs did business, with Dan James moving to Yorkshire in a £25million deal.
But in reality, the Leeds faithful may have nothing to fear. Insider Dean Jones recently revealed that Phillips is becoming ‘more and more convinced about staying’ and signing a new contract.
He’s apparently ‘really impressed’ by the work new manager Jesse Marsch has done, and he may well envisage a bright future in his current surroundings.
In other news, an insider has shared this further update on Phillips.
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