Danny Mills has said that Kalvin Phillips would get in ahead of John McGinn in the Aston Villa starting line-up, if the Leeds United midfielder were to make the move to Villa Park this summer.
Reports from the Telegraph have claimed that Villa are plotting a £14million move to sign Phillips this summer, fresh off the back of winning promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.
Phillips was a hugely important player under Marcelo Bielsa last season, establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the Championship and making 46 appearances in all competitions.
But Dean Smith's side are now believed to be plotting a big-money move for Leeds' homegrown star, as Bielsa's men prepare for another season in the second tier.
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Speaking to Football Insider about the prospect of Phillips joining Villa, former Leeds defender Mills has insisted that the 23-year-old would get into the team ahead of McGinn.
He said: "He may well play instead of John McGinn, simple as that - it all becomes about competition for places, who can add what, who can do what in that team. The Premier League, as we’ve seen, is about competition for places. It’s about players earning the right and improving your squad.
"Is he better than John McGinn? I think he is, so I think he would go in and it might be him, Jack Grealish and somebody else in that midfield. It’s not just how does he play alongside him (McGinn) – Villa will be looking to improve their squad. Is he an improvement? Yes he is."
McGinn was undoubtedly one of Villa's best players last season - the box-to-box Scottish midfielder scored seven goals and produced nine assists for Smith's side, following his arrival from Hibernian.
The Verdict
This is a claim that I am going to have to disagree with, as I can't see Phillips getting in ahead of McGinn if he signed for Villa.
Why not play them both in the same team? In my view, they are completely different players - Phillips is a holding midfielder and sits back, whilst McGinn is more of a box-to-box player who loves to drive forward.
McGinn and Grealish ahead of Phillips could be an unreal midfield trio.