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Premier League club tipped to move for key Leeds man

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Darren Bent has claimed that Newcastle United could look to sign Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips when the transfer window reopens, if the proposed takeover of the St James’ Park club is completed.

It has been suggested in recent months that a Saudi backed consortium is close to completing a deal to buy the Premier League club, in a takeover that BBC Sport has reported could be worth £300million.

If that happens, then the Magpies would likely have plenty of money to spend in the transfer window, and Bent believes that Phillips is one player they could look to target, following yet another outstanding season for the midfielder helping Leeds’ push for promotion to the Premier League.

Speaking to Football Insider about the transfer options Newcastle could consider if their takeover is completed, the former England international said:  “There are some good players who could potentially be in the Championship next season, or even coming out the Championship – people like Kalvin Phillips.

“I think a lot of the top clubs will be looking at Phillips because he’s playing in the wrong division.”

Indeed, it seems Bent believes Leeds will have to win promotion to the Premier League this season, if they are to have any hope of retaining the services of Phillips beyond the current campaign, as he continued“He in himself will think he’s a boyhood Leeds fan, he loves Leeds but obviously everybody wants to play in the Premier League, it’s the biggest and best league, financially it’s the best league as well.

“Whatever your motivation is to get to the Premier League, you’ve just got to get there so I think if he is available.

“I don’t think he’ll be playing another year in the Championship – if he does, he’ll be wasting another year.”

A graduate of Leeds’ academy, Phillips has made a total of 175 appearances in all competitions for the club, only signing a new contract with the Whites earlier this season, securing his future at Elland Road until the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

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UCLan Sports Journalism graduate. Have been working for Leeds All Over since summer 2020, and can only be found writing on Football League World.