Stoke City boss Nathan Jones has been singing the praises of Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips after facing the player twice in the space of a week.
Stoke lost 3-0 to Leeds in the Championship at the weekend but achieved redemption with a penalty shoot-out triumph in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.
Phillips played in both games and the Stoke City boss had high praise for the Leeds midfield talisman, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
He certainly feels that Phillips deserves the huge price-tag Leeds placed on him during the summer.
“Look you’re talking Kalvin Phillips at £25 million the boy is a hard worker, he’s a top professional and I know from people I know here, he’s a humble kid as well.
“I’d like to go up but if I do, they’d be nice to go up too.”
TBR’s View
Leeds United reportedly faced a challenge keeping hold of Phillips over the summer. As reported by The Sun in June, newly promoted Aston Villa were hopeful of bringing in the midfield talisman with a £30 million fee being mooted for his services.
Jones seems to think a fee in the region of £25 million is more befitting and Leeds fans will not disagree.
The midfielder has had a great start to the new campaign and fans will be hoping he can lead Leeds to Premier League promotion.
If not, then the club will have an even bigger task on their hands keeping him at the club next summer.