By Kevin Campbell

16th Dec, 2021 | 4:00pm

Phillips is 'number one' Leeds target for Man United after 'painful' news - pundit

Man United should prioritise the signing of Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips next year, according to Kevin Campbell.

The former Arsenal and Everton striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 26-year-old would “instantly improve” the Red Devils but admitted it would “ruffle some feathers”.

According to ESPN (10 December), Ralf Rangnick identified midfield as an area of weakness in his interview for the interim manager’s position.

Rangnick is said to have told club scouts to look at RB Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara, Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham and Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips as potential midfield targets.

Campbell is confident all three would be good additions to the United squad but sees Phillips as the “outstanding” candidate.

“You would have to look at Kalvin Phillips,” he told Football Insider.

“It would ruffle some feathers. It’d be a painful one for Leeds to take, of course.

“Phillips is an England starter. He is strong, quality and the right age. He would instantly improve that team, of that I have no doubt.

“Jude Bellingham would be a super signing as well but he’s a different kind of player to Phillips.

“Haidara is a player the manager knows, so that will also be appealing.

“Kalvin Phillips is the outstanding name there for me though. He’ll be number one.”

Phillips has made 15 appearances for the Whites this season but is currently sidelined with a hamstring problem.

He has two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract at Elland Road.

In other news, a pundit fears Shaw and fellow Man United big name could be frozen out all season after Ferdinand claim.