Michael Bridges says Leeds must not sell player who's 'absolutely out of this world'

Leeds United cult hero Michael Bridges has waxed lyrical about Whites star Kalvin Phillips.

The Leeds born-and-bred midfielder has had quite an incredible 12 months.

After helping his boyhood club back up to the Premier League, he helped them finish in the top half of the table.

Phillips also made his England debut last September, going on to win a place in the Euro 2020 squad.

And his efforts helped the Three Lions reach the final of the tournament, their first since 1966.

Leeds hero ‘absolutely vital’ for Bielsa

Speaking on Optus Sport, Bridges stressed the importance of Leeds keeping Phillips beyond the end of the transfer window.

“It’s vital. Absolutely vital to keep him,” he said.

“I think if you lose players in wide areas… no disrespect, but you can get away with that to a degree.

“When you lose mainstay centre-halves, defensive midfielders, central midfielders and goal scorers – that’s the core.

“Kalvin is a vital part of that… that position there is so vital. You cannot lose players like that.

“The stats he showed in the Euros were absolutely out of this world, along with Pedri from Spain… it was a big season for him.

“Every player has a price and obviously after what Kalvin has done [there will be interest].

“He’s a Leeds boy, he’s Leeds bred … let’s just hope no one has the money!”

Phillips came through the ranks at Elland Road and debuted in 2014 under Neil Redfearn.

He spent his formative years in the Leeds first team as a central midfielder.

However, Marcelo Bielsa’s arrival at Elland Road in the summer of 2018 saw him pushed further back.

Phillips has since prospered to the extent that the Leeds faithful have nicknamed him the “Yorkshire Pirlo”.