Report: Aston Villa coaching staff really want Kalvin Phillips this summer

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Aston Villa plan to make a move for Kalvin Phillips this summer should Leeds United fail to keep themselves in the Premier League, according to a report from The Athletic.

There is a big question mark hanging over whether Leeds will remain in the top-flight. On current form, they look to be in big trouble.

However, they do still find themselves outside the bottom three. And there were some much more positive signs in their first game under Jesse Marsch at the weekend.

But it is incredibly difficult to call what will happen in the next few months. Certainly, plenty of clubs will be poised and ready to act should Leeds fail to avoid a return to the Championship.

And one of those sides will be Aston Villa. The Athletic reports that Villa plan to target Phillips if Leeds are relegated.

In fact, he is a player who appears to have admirers at all levels of the club. The Athletic suggests that Phillips has been discussed by the Villa board, and is wanted by the coaching staff and recruitment team.

Losing Phillips to Aston Villa would add insult to injury if Leeds are relegated

Of course, Leeds fans will know what is likely to happen if they are relegated. Their marquee players such as Phillips and Raphinha are almost certainly going to move on.

Leeds supporters have always anticipated that there will come a point when Raphinha leaves Elland Road. But there has always been hope that Phillips could yet spend the peak years of his career with his boyhood club.

Perhaps keeping Phillips will be difficult whatever happens this season. He has been ‘amazing‘ since Leeds got themselves promoted. And there are a host of sides monitoring the £50 million-rated star.

The departure of Marcelo Bielsa may not help the situation given the relationship the pair had.

But selling Phillips to Villa would unquestionably add insult to injury for Leeds if they are ultimately relegated.