Why Real Madrid are leading the race for Kalvin Phillips
Martin Macdonald
- 17 Jan 2022 06:08 CST
- 3 min read
Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips is a wanted man and could leave the Yorkshire side in the January transfer window or in the summer.
The 26-year-old was born and bred in Leeds and has been a key member of the first-team squad since 2015, helping the club finally achieve promotion back to the Premier League in 2019.
Phillips has made the step-up to top-flight football seamlessly and is now a starter for the England national side under Gareth Southgate.
Along with Declan Rice, he formed a midfield partnership that would see the Three Lions through to the final of the European Championships.
He was previously hailed by team-mate Liam Cooper as one of the best midfielders in the world.
TRENDING
Even though Phillips is a Leeds fan and cares deeply about the club, they are facing a fight to keep hold of their star midfielder.
In their second season back in the Premier League, Leeds have struggled to maintain the high standards they set in 2020/21.
Injuries to key players like Phillips and Patrick Bamford have not helped the slump, as Leeds are currently down in 15th in the Premier League table.
Although they are not in a relegation battle as of yet, their proximity to the bottom three will prove too close for comfort.
Should this trend continue, Phillips may campaign for a move away to a Champions League side.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have all been mentioned as possible destinations.
According to Catalan outlet El Nacional, Real Madrid have the upper hand on the Premier League sides.
Why are Madrid favourites to sign Phillips?
Liverpool are desperate to sign Phillips, with Jurgen Klopp a huge admirer of the England international.
But, unfortunately for them and Man Utd, Leeds would allegedly be more comfortable selling the player to a club who are not a domestic rival.
Leeds hold rivalries with both Man Utd and Liverpool and would ideally like to avoid losing their star player to one of these clubs.
That is why Real Madrid believe they can usurp Premier Leagues sides to a deal.
Carlo Ancelotti allegedly loves Phillips and wants him as a long-term replacement for Casemiro.
According to the report from El Nacional, Ancelotti has what is described as an "obsession" with the player due to his talents.
The Italian has asked the Madrid hierarchy to sanction a €40 million deal.
