Leeds United Director of Football Victor Orta has suggested that the club were 'powerless' in stopping Kalvin Phillips join Manchester City in the summer.
The England international signed for City in a deal worth £45million in the summer transfer market, signing a six-year deal with the Premier League champions.
Phillips, who became Pep Guardiola's third summer signing after the arrivals of Erling Haaland and Stefan Ortega Moreno, made 235 appearances over eight seasons at Elland Road and still had two years left on his Leeds deal.
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The 26-year-old arrived at the Etihad Stadium after an impressive Euro 2020 campaign with England, with the midfielder being named the Three Lions' men's Player of the Year for 2020-21.
While he was a key player for Leeds during his time at the club, Phillips has struggled with injuries since his move to City and has made just three appearances for Guardiola's side.
Leeds were desperate to keep hold of the midfielder, but club chief Orta has admitted that Leeds were powerless in stopping him leave the club
He also appeared to suggest that the Yorkshire outfit couldn't match the ambition of the England international, which forced them to sell the player.
"Players have a rate of growth that you either match as a club or you have to sell them because otherwise you are at a disadvantage," Orta told the Telegraph.
"Hopefully Leeds will grow to match the growth of the players. In that decision, what you have to do is to optimise the sale, and I think in both cases it has been done in a positive way in terms of quality and price."
Phillips is set for surgery on a persistent shoulder problem that is going to leave his World Cup hopes hanging by a thread. He has had two significant shoulder injuries during his career and picked up a knock in that area during City's friendly in Barcelona towards the end of August.
City were told that he will almost certainly need surgery to correct the issue and is set for a spell on the sidelines as a result.
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