Aston Villa Opinion: Why Kalvin Phillips would be a superb signing for Villa?
Aston Villa are back in the Premier League after three rollercoaster years in the Championship. They clinched promotion after defeating Derby County in the EFL Championship playoff final, 2-1, to reclaim their place amongst the elite.
Dean Smith, a lifelong Aston Villa fan, masterminded the club’s return to the top-flight. The victory in the playoff final has boosted Villa’s finances massively and despite everything, the hard work really does start here for Dean Smith and co.
The Birmingham-based club will need to back manager Dean Smith with substantial funds if they are to survive their first season back among the big boys. Spending money to survive in the Premier League won’t be an ideal formula, especially after watching Fulham get relegated adopting that approach following promotion last year.
Smith will need to strengthen in every department to ensure the Villains stay up next season. He’ll need to keep the core of the promotion-winning team intact, be ambitious in his approach and recruit smartly in the transfer market. One of the players Aston Villa have been linked with of late is Leeds United star, Kalvin Phillips.
Kalvin Phillips, 23, has been a standout performer in the midfield for Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United side this season. He has just two years to run on his current contract and Leeds are braced for offers after failing to tie him down to a new deal during the season. Yet, the Whites are surely going to be doing everything they can to keep hold of their midfield ace as they prepare for another year in the Championship.
Aston Villa have won promotion and must show their ambition by plotting a move for Phillips. The likes of Tammy Abraham, Axel Tuanzebe, Tyrone Mings, Anwar El Ghazi and Kortney Hause are all set to return to their parent clubs, following the end of the loan spells, while veteran midfielders Mile Jedinak and Glenn Whelan are out of contract next month.
Jedinak and Whelan are experienced Premier League pros but Smith is likely to keep one of them in his squad for the next season. Whoever leaves, Phillips would be the ideal player to replace with.
Phillips has shown with Leeds that he can hold the midfield very well on his own and link the defence and attack for the team. The 23-year-old, who thrives when he is playing in front of the back four, would be a perfect shield for Villa’s backline and attack-minded team in general.
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Smith plays a fast-paced and demanding style of football and there’s no reason why Phillips wouldn’t be able to thrive in that system. The 23-year-old was the beating heart in Bielsa’s system in the Championship and he is more than capable of making the step-up to the Premier League.
Verdict
Phillips is exactly the type of player that Aston Villa need to sign ahead of next season. He is expected to cost a lot of money, but this would be worth it the player of the Leeds midfielder’s quality and potential.
