Jermaine Beckford urges Leeds stars to stop Kalvin Phillips leaving

By Jordan Harris

Jermaine Beckford has told the Sunday Mirror (5/6; page 70) that he has already told a couple of the Leeds United squad to handcuff Kalvin Phillips to the crossbar to stop him leaving amid interest from Liverpool and Manchester City.

Phillips’ future remains uncertain. Leeds fans would have hoped that a new contract would be a priority once survival was secured on the final day of the Premier League season.

However, he continues to be linked with a move away. Reports on Sunday noted that Liverpool plan to rival Manchester City for the £60 million-rated midfielder.

Whites supporters will feel that Phillips’ love for the club gives them an advantage in staving off interest from most clubs. However, the chance to join City or the Reds will be difficult to turn down.

Unsurprisingly, Beckford feels that it would be a huge blow for Leeds to lose Phillips. And he shared that he has urged the midfielder’s teammates to do all they can to make him stay.

“I don’t want him to leave because he’s a phenomenal footballer and an amazing human being,” he told the Sunday Mirror (5/6; page 70).

“He’s doing the club proud and if I was there now, I’d be persuading him to stay on a daily basis. As it stands, I’ve spoken to one or two of the other lads and told them not to let Kalvin go, and to handcuff him to the crossbar if they have to!”

Can Leeds stop Liverpool target Kalvin Phillips leaving?

Several Premier League sides want Phillips. And you would imagine that the bidding war would have already started had Leeds been relegated.

But the Whites staying up surely takes a number of teams out of the equation. Jesse Marsch’s men had a horrible year. But Phillips is a boyhood fan. And with that, it is hard to seeing him joining many of his admirers.

However, Liverpool and Manchester City are so far clear of everyone else. They are two of the very best in the world. And any player will know that winning multiple trophies will be difficult without playing for one of them.

Leeds will hope that Phillips does not make life difficult for them. If he is going to leave, there is an opportunity for a deal to be done that keeps Phillips’ relationship with the Leeds fans in tact.

But convincing him to stay will not be easy if City or Liverpool offer £60 million anytime soon.