Leeds United could be set to be rocked by emerging news that key midfielder Kalvin Phillips could be prepared to force a move out of Elland Road.

According to reports from the Sun, Phillips is prepared to ignore the contract on offer by Leeds at the moment and enter the final 12 months of his deal next summer, where he would be in a much stronger position to negotiate his exit from the club.

Aston Villa have long been credited with an interest in Phillips over the summer, but their bids thus far have failed to turn the heads of those in charge at Leeds, with Phillips remaining firmly part of Marcelo Bielsa's plans for the upcoming season.

However, this latest news could well force Leeds and Bielsa into some sort of action, with the club more than likely to not want to have players on board who aren't fully focussed on delivering promotion for the Yorkshire outfit in the coming season.

Phillips has become an integral part of the system employed by Bielsa at Elland Road and his loss would no doubt cause a massive hole to be filled in the Leeds squad.

A player who has come through the ranks with the Whites, the 23-year-old has really kicked on in the last 12 months and will be looking to test himself at the highest level possible in his career.

The Verdict

Oh dear, this is a bit of a shocker from Phillips and not what you want to hear if you're a Leeds fan.

When things like this start to get moving you immediately start to think it could be the beginning of the end.

The pressure now then would seem to be firmly on the club. Do they cash in now while the price is still high? Or do they bank on Phillips knuckling down and helping them to promotion? It's a really tricky affair for the club to manage now and an unwanted distraction for Bielsa too.