Darren Bent is tipping Kalvin Phillips for a Leeds United exit, admitting he ‘could see’ Sheffield United or Norwich City landing the midfielder’s signature before next week’s transfer deadline.  

Leeds have stood firm over Phillips’ future so far this summer, despite not being able to tie the 23-year-old to fresh terms at Elland Road.

Phillips has featured regularly over the course of pre-season, and all being well, many will expect to see him martialing the midfield when the Whites take on Bristol City in Sunday’s Championship opener.

Aston Villa were in hot pursuit of him earlier this summer, with the Telegraph noting their interest early on, but Bent, who is a pundit for Football Insider, believes the Villans are no longer in the race to sign him.

“I’m a big fan of Kalvin Phillips, I think he’s brilliant. He is too good for the Championship and deserves to be playing in the Premier League. He was probably Leeds’ best player last season and one of the best in the division,” he wrote for Football Insider.

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“I can’t see him going to Aston Villa now, as they’ve brought in two new defensive midfielders and I can’t see them signing a third, even though it’s such an important position these days.”

However, the former England international believes that Norwich or Sheffield United, who went up ahead of Leeds last season, could swoop.

“I would love to see him in the Premier League this season, and he’d be brilliant for one of the two other new boys, Sheffield United and Norwich,” he continued. “I can see one of them getting him. It would need to be a big bid to get him this late in the day.” 

Phillips has made 130 Championship appearances, scoring 10 goals and registering eight assists.

The Verdict  

There are going to be a few nervous people associated with Leeds as the transfer window ticks into its final week, particularly when it comes to Phillips.

The midfielder is vital and if Leeds lose him now, there will be a riot at Elland Road.

In terms of Bent’s claim, I’d be surprised if Norwich or Sheffield United went big on him in the next week, especially when it’d be £20m+ to get Leeds thinking. However, stranger things have happened in the transfer window.

Thoughts? Let us know!