Kalvin Phillips: Leeds tipped to initiate bidding war after source's £60m-plus update - pundit
Alan Hutton has insisted Leeds United will be able to get £60million-plus for Kalvin Phillips even if they are relegated this season.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the Whites may be able to initiate a bidding war for the 26-year-old should they drop out of the Premier League.
A Leeds United source has told Football Insider that the club value Phillips at over £60million, with transfer speculation building ahead of the summer.
Meanwhile, a recruitment source told this site (9 March) some of the biggest agents in the game have informed Phillips they have the connections to seal him a move to a Champions League giant.
With Leeds fighting a battle to stay up this season, Hutton insisted the midfielder's value should be secure regardless of the club's fate.
Asked if Leeds could demand £60million-plus if relegated, Hutton told Football Insider's Russell Edge: "I think so. He's a great player that's only going to get better with time.
"He's a full international, he makes Leeds tick, he's the kind of difference-maker for them. When he doesn't play, they're not the same team.
"I think his value, I think there will be a certain amount of teams willing to pay that.
"I can't really see Leeds selling off one of our best assets for cheap. He's under contract so even if they were to go down, I think they would look for the biggest price possible."
Phillips has missed much of this season after suffering a serious hamstring injury in December.
His contract at Elland Road runs until the summer of 2024.