Leeds reject huge bid for player that's millions more than his release clause - Sources

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Published on:

12 Sep 2019, 6:40 am

By Wayne Veysey and Pete O'Rourke

Leeds United rejected a bid for Kalvin Phillips this summer worth millions more than the release clause inserted in his new contract, Football Insider can reveal.

Football Insider broke the news on Tuesday how the midfielder, 23, negotiated a buy-out sum - believed to be of between £20million and £25million - in the five-year deal signed on Monday.

This can be triggered by rival clubs at the end of the season if Leeds do no secure promotion to the Premier League.

A Leeds source has told Football Insider how the Championship mainstays knocked back a bid worth £27million in total during the English window that shut on 9 August.

The full sum, which included add-ons, would have generated United potentially more than what they may be forced to sale Phillips for in the event they don't go up a division at the end of Marcelo Bielsa's second campaign.

The release clause was inserted at the insistence of Phillips' camp as they look to ensure the in-demand player can move up to the top flight if Leeds' ambitions are not realised.

The Elland Road academy product has developed into one of the outstanding players in the Championship since Bielsa took over in 2018 and transformed him into a midfield anchorman.

In other Leeds United news, it can be REVEALED that the club are set to lose loan star in the January window after developments.

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