26-year-old PL star completely silenced Harry Kane this season, now Conte reportedly wants to sign him

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Tottenham have been credited with an interest in Leeds United and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips this summer.

Antonio Conte is understood to be a fan of 26-year-old Phillips, but The Telegraph has cast doubt over the likelihood of Tottenham Hotspur signing the Englishman.

Qualification for the Champions League would boost Tottenham’s budget and give Phillips access to a competition he has not yet played on if he goes there.

The Telegraph adds that it is highly questionable whether Daniel Levy would be prepared to offer what Manchester United would put on the table for Phillips.

Phillips has been linked with the Red Devils, who are Leeds’ bitter rivals and that would be an incredibly controversial move if he made it.

Tottenham would be a more palatable move for all parties, especially if they are dining at European football’s top table and Manchester United are not.

Phillips and Spurs talisman Harry Kane are of course England teammates but also came up against each other in November this season.

He played out of position at centre-back and despite Leeds’ eventual 2-1 defeat, he earned praise from pundit Danny Murphy on TalkSPORT.

“I’ve got to give Phillips a mention,” Murphy said. “What about how comfortable he was in possession? What a player!”

“I know he wasn’t best pleased about playing at the back but what about how good he was at centre-half, marking Kane? What about how clever he was, knowing when to step in front and when to step off?”

Phillips would be brought in to boost Spurs’ midfield if he did come in for big money but his versatility would be handy, and of course Kane knows exactly how good the 26-year-old is.