Leeds find replacement for Man Utd & Man City target Kalvin Phillips

James Shearman

• 12 Jun 2022 14:21 BST
• 4 min read

Leeds United may have found their replacement for star player Kalvin Phillips, who is subject to interest from both Manchester City and Manchester United.

Jesse Marsch's side have reportedly identified Bayern Munich midfielder Marc Roca, according to Spanish outlet Marca.

The Spaniard only made nine Bundesliga appearances this season, indicating that he is surplus to requirements in Bavaria.

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Bayern are reportedly looking for a fee in the region of £10 million for the 25-year-old.

He would join RB Salzburg duo Brenden Aaronson and Rasmus Kristensen through the door at Elland Road.

Yet, all three combined will struggle to make the same impact as Phillips at the club.

The 'Yorkshire Pirlo' has been a revelation, but it could be time to take the next progression in his career.

Will Phillips move to City or United?

Kalvin Phillips is of interest to both Manchester United and Manchester City, and a move to either club is possible in the coming months.

Both Manchester clubs are eager to bring in a defensive midfielder like Phillips, as they look to bolster their options in the transfer window and make up for lost players.

For United, it has long been the case that they needed a defensive midfielder and have lined up several targets, with Leeds’ Phillips being the latest one with serious links.

For City, they are on the search for a replacement for Fernandinho, who will be leaving the club this summer at the age of 37, having joined in 2013 from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Pep Guardiola’s team could also let go of Ilkay Gundogan, and adding Phillips would bring in an extra body in midfield.

At this point, it looks like City are ahead of their Manchester rivals in the race for 26-year-old Phillips and could secure the midfielder’s signature this summer.

There are several reasons for this: mainly, the competitive edge the reigning Premier League champions would provide by playing Champions League football and competing for major trophies.

Add to that, the opportunity to work in one of the world’s top teams, with a manager known for his rotation and ability to improve players would be an enticing one for Phillips.

On the other side, Manchester United are optimistic of progress under Erik ten Hag but competing amongst the best would still take a few more years as they have to complete a total rebuild of the squad.

Additionally, Phillips would have a sense of club loyalties – Leeds United and Manchester United have had a fierce rivalry over the years and moving to the Etihad Stadium perhaps wouldn’t bring up the same level of animosity, despite some players having made the move to Old Trafford in the past.

Reports have suggested that Phillips has told close friends he isn’t interested in a move to Manchester United, and that means a potential deal is currently in the blue side’s favour.