Kalvin Phillips: Leeds told to ‘100 per cent’ sign new contract with release clause – pundit
Gabby Agbonlahor has admitted he cannot understand why Leeds United have not yet secured Kalvin Phillips to a new contract.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker claimed they should hand Phillips a new deal with a release clause for “when the big boys come knocking”.
The England star’s agent Kevin Sharp told the Sun on Sunday (6 February) he wanted Leeds to honour their promise of a new deal after turning down January bids from West Ham.
His current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2024 after he signed a five-year deal in 2019.
Asked whether he was amazed Leeds had not tied him down to a new contract, Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “100 per cent, yes. When you’ve got an asset like him, you get him signed up.
“Look at Grealish, Villa saw him as a big asset and they gave him a big contract as the highest-paid player with a release clause that ended up being met by Man City.
“That’s the way I see the Phillips situation going. He’s quite young still, he might sign a new contract with a release clause in. Then when the big boys come knocking he can go for a certain fee.
“He will want to play at the top level. As much as he loves his club, he will want to play in the Champions League.
“It’s just similar to the Grealish situation. A lot of fans of other teams were saying he had to leave and couldn’t stay at Villa, that’s the same situation with Leeds and Phillips.
“You have to have the same energy for these players. They have to move on to fulfil their potential.”
In other news, Leeds United could be relegated after an update on an ‘absolutely brilliant’ star this week.