Newcastle United are expected to undergo a squad overhaul at the end of the season as their takeover by Public Investment Fund (PIF), PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media means lucrative resources going into the summer transfer window.
The Magpies strengthened their midfield in January with Bruno Guimaraes arriving from Olympique Lyonnais, but the Daily Mail say they want another defensive-midfielder in Kalvin Phillips. The 26-year-old may feel he needs to aim higher than 16th-placed Leeds, so Newcastle might be an attractive proposition.
Kevin Campbell thinks Phillips would be keen to make the switch, telling Football Insider: “I think he’d be tempted by Newcastle. The numbers could be serious for a player like Kalvin Phillips. He is a top player who is strong, an England international and is getting better every season.”
The 26-year-old is regarded as one of the best defensive-midfielders in the Premier League and was named England Player of the Year following the 2020 European Championships, so Newcastle couldn’t wish for a better protector of the back-four than Phillips.
He won’t come cheap, however, as Leeds have him contracted for another two years and have little intention of cashing in for cheap. Campbell predicts there will be resistance from United this summer but thinks a departure is on the horizon.
He added: “Leeds will be desperate to keep hold of him but I’m not sure if they will. I truly believe that if Leeds want to rebuild they need to cash in on some of their players. They might have to do some selling to strengthen their squad. Their squad is nowhere near strong enough. They are nowhere near as strong as they should be.”
In other news, Paddy Kenny says Newcastle United should ‘bite the bullet’ to get Dan Ashworth
