Danny Mills shares verdict on Kalvin Phillips signing for Aston Villa after source’s update
Kalvin Phillips will want to move to a better side than Aston Villa if he leaves Leeds United this summer.
That’s according to former Whites and England defender Danny Mills, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the midfielder’s future.
On Monday (16 May) this site revealed Aston Villa and Newcastle are leading the race to sign Phillips, 26, this summer.
A recruitment source has told this site both clubs have made the midfielder a top target and are laying the groundwork for potential deals.
However, Mills claims Phillips will “set his sights higher” than a move to Villa if he does leave Elland Road.
“If Leeds go down, then without a doubt [he will leave],” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“He wants to ply his trade in the Premier League. I don’t think anyone would fault him for wanting to do that.
“I think he will set his heights a little higher than Aston Villa, to be honest. He hasn’t really played this season but he is a superb player coming into his prime.
“There is no reason he couldn’t drop into a team who are higher up in the table.”
The 26-year-old was pictured still out on the Elland Road turf with Raphinha long after the final whistle in Sunday’s (15 May) 1-1 draw with Brighton by BBC Leeds’ Jonathan Buchan.
The reporter also suggested Phillips may have been taking in the surroundings at Elland Road for the final time as a Leeds player.
In other news, this is what Aston Villa stars really say about Philippe Coutinho behind the scenes.