£60m star urged to snub Prem giants and join Aston Villa

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Aston Villa would be a ‘better choice’ for Leeds star Kalvin Phillips than Premier League giants Manchester United, former England international Gabby Agbonlahor tells talkSPORT (28 April, 9.30am). 

If Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds are renowned for helping talented, up-and-coming youngsters eke every ounce of their potential – turning EFL stalwarts Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas into top-flight stars – then the opposite applies to their bitter rivals from the other side of the Pennines. 

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Diogo Dalot, Jadon Sancho, Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford; These just some of the players who’s development has plateaued rather tragically at Old Trafford. 

Of course, the Premier League’s perennial underachievers could still be jolted into life by the appointment of Erik Ten Hag – a truly elite-level tactician – but who could blame Phillips really if opts to give Man United the cold shoulder? 

Of course, United’s dreadful track record when it comes to handling the development of Sancho and co is not the only reason why Phillips – a dyed-in-the-wool Leeds fanatic and an academy graduate to boot – would have reservations about following in Alan Smith’s footsteps. 

Will Kalvin Phillips turn down Man United move?

“I don’t think Kalvin Phillips would do that, (being a) big Leeds fan himself. I don’t think he’d go to Manchester United,” predicts former Villa captain Agbonlahor.  

Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

“And I’m hearing that maybe Aston Villa are in for Kalvin Phillips. I think that’d be a better choice for him.” 

The Times report that Leeds will demand around £60 million for Phillips, the 2021 England Player of the Year.

It’s a testament to the ambition and financial might of Aston Villa’s owners that a club-record move to the Midland giants is still being talked about as a realistic possibility. 

“Our owners are one of the richest in the Premier League, after the Newcastle, United and Man City owners” Agbonlahor adds.  

“Aston Villa have very, very rich owners. So I’m sure Kalvin Phillips would love to come from Leeds to Birmingham.” 

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

In other news, Man City legend says he has ‘so much respect’ for 27-year-old set to leave Liverpool

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