‘It could be Burnley’ – Exclusive: Bent touts potential exit for Leeds man with release clause
Darren Bent believes Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips would be tempted by a move to any Premier League side if the Whites are not promoted this season.
The former Spurs and England striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, suggests the 24-year-old would be able to join at least a top-ten club if Marcelo Bielsa’s men remain in the Championship.
As revealed by Football Insider last year, Phillips has a release clause of between £20-25million in his contract if Leeds are not promoted to the Premier League this term.
The Whites currently top the table by a single point but their promotion hopes are currently on ice due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Bent believes that Phillips’ sole aim is to be playing Premier League football and that any top-flight side has a chance of taking him from Elland Road should he not make it there with his current teammates.
“If Leeds were not to go up, I think any team in the Premier League could tempt him away because it’s the Premier League,” Bent told Football Insider.
“Even though Leeds are a massive, massive club, if, for whatever reason, they didn’t go up this season, it could be any team, it could be Burnley, any team in the Premier League you want, anyone would be able to tempt him away.
“I think he would get at least a top-ten Premier League team because he’s that good.”
Phillips has been a mainstay for Bielsa since the Argentine’s arrival at Elland Road, with 80 appearances under his belt over the last two seasons.
He has missed just six Championship games this campaign, with four of those as a result of suspension.
In other Leeds United news, it can be REVEALED a Premier League winner is willing to take a pay cut to join the club.