Kalvin Phillips has emerged as a potential alternative to England teammate Declan Rice as Manchester United work on a deal to sign the Leeds United midfielder. A standout performer alongside Rice at Euro 2020 last summer, it has been a difficult season for Phillips as he works his way back from a troublesome hamstring problem.
In his absence, Leeds flirted with Premier League relegation. Despite two heavy defeats to their bitter rivals United, though, it appears as though the Whites are safe. But could they lose Phillips to the Old Trafford giants?
That would-be move evokes memories of a (controversial) pathway set out by Eric Cantona, Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith before Phillips. Meanwhile, high-profile pundits such as Gary Neville and Roy Keane have already told their old employers what impact the midfielder can have should he swap Elland Road for United this summer.
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Gary Neville
Neville has long-since championed Phillips and comments made either side of his Euro 2020 heroics offer proof he would give a thumbs up to his former club should they sign the Leeds talisman. Speaking before England's journey to the final, Neville said: "Kalvin Phillips is better at passing the ball through the lines at Leeds.
"[Jordan] Henderson and [Declan] Rice are good on the ball, but Phillips is the best out of those three on the ball in terms of accepting the ball and getting it off the back four. It has become a really important area for England so, for me, I would go for Phillips alongside Rice."
Underlining his stance at the start of this season, Neville added: "He came into the Premier League 12 months ago, but he's now the best English midfielder there is, by far. When you think of players, we always try to stereotype... Is he a holding player? Is he an attacking player? He's actually a throwback to someone who can do everything.
"He runs, he tackles, he passes, he can defend, honestly, he's fantastic. He's likeable, he also has integrity when he speaks, you like watching him. He runs all day, the stats we see that he produces, the most pressures, is a dream. The work you have to do as a defender and midfielder at Leeds is unreal but he really sets the tone, he's a fantastic, fantastic player."
Roy Keane
Around the same time as Neville made those glowing follow-up comments, Keane was asked for his views on the Leeds star before playing for England in a 4-0 victory over Hungary. Speaking in September, he said: "You still have to be looking for improvements in your team and if you're being critical of England look at the lads in the middle of the park, Rice and Phillips, have they got that creativity?
"But in fairness, they had really good tournaments and you have to look at the positives. With the attacking players England still had high up the pitch, they sacrificed that to go with them two lads."
Jamie Carragher
Going against their trademark back and forth, Jamie Carragher seemingly agrees with Neville and even compared the 19-cap international to Paul Scholes during a punditry piece in November 2020. At the time, he said: "If you are coming up against Leeds United, who are brilliant as a team - not just Kalvin Phillips - he has got to be a major part of your team talk in exactly the way Paul Scholes was for Manchester United.
"You had to stop Paul Scholes pulling strings in midfield and this lad, that was one of the best performances I have seen from an individual this season. If you come up against him, you have got to stop him."
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