Manchester City 'readying Kalvin Phillips approach'

Manchester City are reportedly preparing to make an official approach for Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

The 26-year-old endured an injury-hit season at Elland Road last term and only made 23 appearances for the Whites in all competitions, contributing one goal and one assist in the process.

Phillips started 18 Premier League games while missing the best part of three months due to a hamstring injury, and he played the full 90 in each of his side's last six top-flight matches to help them secure survival on the final day.

However, Phillips is about to enter the final two years of his contract with Jesse Marsch's side and is not expected to be short of offers from top clubs across the country this summer.

Manchester United and Chelsea have long been linked with a move for the England international, and Liverpool are also said to have joined the race after missing out on Aurelien Tchouameni.

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According to the Daily Mail, Man City plan to formally approach Leeds over a deal for Phillips once the midfielder is back from England duty, but he will not arrive on the cheap.

The report adds that the Whites have slapped a £60m valuation on the head of Phillips, who has outlined his intentions to remain at Elland Road until his current deal expires.

"I've made what I want to do clear. I've made my intentions clear. I want to be at Leeds and I'll focus on that until my contract ends. I'm not really worried about it too much," Phillips told BBC Radio Leeds.

"It's always been something I've been confident about sorting whenever it needs sorting. There's always going to be noise when you're an England international and you're playing for one of the biggest teams in the country, and I think until the end of the season, I'll be happy at Leeds and always will be."

Phillips played a key role in helping Leeds achieve promotion to the Premier League in 2019-20 and has now banked 14 goals and 13 assists in 234 games for the club since progressing through the youth ranks.

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The former Wortley Juniors youngster's injury woes have not let up, though as he was taken off with a "severe dead leg" in England's Nations League draw with Germany on Tuesday night.

Phillips - who earned his 21st cap for the Three Lions in Munich before being substituted in the 14th minute - has now emerged as a major doubt for Saturday's showdown with Italy at Molineux.

Man City are in the market for a new midfielder following the departure of Fernandinho, who leaves at the age of 37 following a nine-year spell with the Premier League champions.

Pep Guardiola's side were also thought to be keen on bringing Tchouameni to the club from Monaco, but the Frenchman is now expected to join Real Madrid in an £85m deal.

Bernardo Silva's future also continues to be called into question, and the Portuguese's agent is said to have recently held talks with Barcelona.