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Kevin Phillips warns Leeds not to repeat transfer blunder after key update
Leeds United must not repeat their mistake from last summer of failing to sign a central midfield alternative to Kalvin Phillips in the next window.
That is according to Premier League legend Kevin Phillips, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the United midfielder.
On Friday, Phil Hay of The Athletic reported Marcelo Bielsa’s press conference update that Phillips is an injury doubt for Sunday’s clash against Arsenal.
The Whites have struggled without Phillips playing the anchor role this season and Pascal Struijk struggled in the position in the January loss to Brighton at Elland Road.
Phillips believes that Leeds need to bring in some backup for their star midfielder this summer because they won’t get away with losing him next season.
“The thing with Leeds is, Kalvin’s missed a few chunks of games this year and they’ve got away with it and dealt with it,” Phillips told Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs.
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“Maybe Bielsa’s thought that if he does need to miss three or four games then we can cover in that area.
“They’re not going to get relegated, they’re probably not going to get into that top six so they can probably get away with it.
“That might be the thinking but obviously next year that might be an area they need to look at.
“At some point they will lose him again next year, whether that’s through suspension or an injury.
“I think for this season they’ll be fine but I think for next season they’ll look at that area.”
Leeds didn’t make any first-team additions in January which means there is no new replacement ready to step in for Phillips on Sunday.
The versatile Stuart Dallas could step into Phillips’ usual role, as could Pascal Struijk or Mateusz Klich.
In other Leeds United news, a top pundit thought Leeds United star Raphinha was “rubbish” at the outset of the season.