Why Burnley signing Kalvin Phillips would be a smart move

According to The Sun, Burnley are one of the few Premier League clubs interested in signing Kalvin Phillips in the summer. The report suggests that clubs like Wolves and Sheffield United are in a stiff battle along with Brighton to secure the services of Phillips.

Phillips, 24, came through Wortley Juniors and Leeds’ youth ranks. He was promoted to the first-team back in 2015 and since then, he has been a consistent member. He has made 174 appearances for the club and in the process, scored 11 goals and provided 10 assists.

Meanwhile, Sean Dyche has managed to bring a change in the club’s results of late. After 4 consecutive losses from the end of December to mid-January, the Clarets have not lost a single game in the last five outings.

The 3-0 win over Bournemouth at the weekend has propelled them to 10^th position in the league standings. Dyche would be hoping to see that the results continue the same way.

However, the manager needs to make some changes to the squad for next season, especially in the midfield area. Jack Cork and Ashley Westwood are the two defensive midfielders available at his disposal at the moment.

The duo has been a regular throughout the campaign but both of them are ageing and cannot offer much in the years to come. Westwood’s contract comes to an end in the summer but has an option to extend it for a year. By the end of next season, both of them would be out of contract. Hence, signing Kalvin Phillips would be a sensible option.

The 24-year-old has improved himself and is considered to be one of the best players in the Championship. He has featured regularly under Marcelo Bielsa and is the team’s engine in the middle of the park.

A defensive midfielder by trade, he is capable of playing in an advanced role too. Phillips also has the ability to play on both sides of the central defence and his versatility would be a huge boost for the side which has already conceded 39 goals in the top-flight so far.

Read more

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• Why Burnley are right in chasing Saint-Etienne’s Harold Moukoudi
• Why Josh Brownhill would be a brilliant signing for Burnley

Verdict

Burnley struggled prior to their good run of form and with limited midfield options, they must make a move for the 24-year-old to bolster their midfield ranks. He has the potential to succeed at a higher level.

Hence, the Clarets must take the opportunity and beat off the competition from their rivals to sign Phillips in the summer.