By Kevin Phillips

13th Jun, 2021 | 6:00pm

Costa is set for Leeds exit after agent speaks out - Phillips

The fact Leeds United are targeting other wingers signals that Helder Costa’s time at the club is up. 

That is according to former Premier League hitman Kevin Phillips, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s agent revealed the latest in his transfer situation.

Quoted via Leeds Live on 7th June, he claims that there is “incredibly great interest” in the Rubin Kazan winger from clubs in England as well as Germany and Italy.

That comes after Russian outlet Soccer.ru reported on April 27th that Leeds director of football Victor Orta has met with the 20-year-old’s representatives.

Costa, 27, signed for Leeds permanently on a four-year deal last summer after spending the previous campaign on loan at Elland Road.

But he has wilted during his time with the club in the top-flight and started just 13 games in the league all season.

Phillips suggests that the fact Leeds are targeting alternate wide men suggest they are prepared to cut their losses on Costa.

“They have already got a lot of wingers,” he told Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs.

“I would say that it makes it very likely that Costa will move on because he didn’t play a lot last season.

“It’s an area that they have plenty of cover in, those wide areas. So I think maybe his time at Leeds is up.

“He can go somewhere now and go and play regularly Whether that means that you’ve got to drop down a league, who knows?

“But that might be the way to get back to where you used to be. So bringing another winger in strengthens the squad.

“You’d like to think he’s not just being brought in for numbers, you want him [Kvaratskhelia] to be challenging for places.

“If Helder Costa is leaving, that would make it a little bit easier for him.”

In other news, former Leeds United man slams Jean-Kevin Augustine amid RB Leipzig update.