According to a recent report by the Daily Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a move to bring Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips to North London during this ongoing summer transfer window. However, the same source has also claimed that Spurs will face stiff competition from Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers in pursuit of the Whites midfield ace in this off-season.
Kalvin Phillips’ Impressive Career At Elland Road
The 23-year-old has a wealth of experience in the EFL Championship, but he is yet to make an appearance in the Premier League. Phillips came through the youth ranks of Leeds United before breaking out as a first-team starter back in 2015. The Leeds-born talent has featured in a total of 141 matches for the West Yorkshire outfit thus far, scoring ten goals while creating eight assists across all competitions.
The English prospect primarily operates as a defensive midfielder but can also play in a box to box role at the centre of the park. Phillips made an average of 2.6 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 2.6 clearances per game in the EFL Championship last season (stats via whoscored).
His incredible contributions on the field in the previous campaign helped Leeds secure a third-place finish in the league standings. However, it was not enough for the Whites to earn a promotion back to the English top-flight as they lost to Derby County in the playoff semi-finals.
What Does Phillips Offer On The Pitch?
The English workhorse is a physically dominant defensive midfielder who can do a bit of everything at the centre of the park. He has no such weaknesses in his game as such, but one of his best features is his versatility. Last season he even played as a centre half for Leeds during an injury crisis.
Also, it would be unfair to dismiss Phillips as just another defensive midfielder. He is probably the best midfielder in the Championship right now. The Englishman is instrumental in building plays from behind and sometimes operate as a deep-lying playmaker. He is behind almost everything good created from midfield.
Is Phillips The Right Choice For Pochettino?
Phillips has flourished while playing football under the expert stewardship of Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road. However, he is yet to prove his worth at the highest level so the jury is still out on whether he can be a success story at a top club like Tottenham.
However, as someone who watched Phillips in a lot of games, we can confidently say that he would be a brilliant signing for Mauricio Pochettino’s side if they decide to lure him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before the start of the new campaign.
