Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips lands blow to Tottenham interest

According to FourFourTwo (h/t Express), Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips has shut the door on Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho’s hopes of bringing him to North London.

Dubbed the Yorkshire Pirlo, Phillips has been touted by some sections of the media as the answer to England’s midfield problems. The 24-year-old has been a mainstay in Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds midfield as the Whites attempt to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Phillips has made 34 appearances so far this season and has scored one goal and two assists. He has missed just six of his team’s matches in the league – four of which were due to suspension. The player has revealed his intention to spend the rest of his career at Elland Road.

Kalvin Phillips has been nicknamed the Yorkshire Pirlo

Primarily a defensive midfielder, his performances have not gone unnoticed. A number of teams are keeping tabs on him, with Mourinho also keen. Phillips is extremely motivated to stay at Leeds and is keen to help his team return to the English top-flight.

“I want to spend my career at Leeds and see the club doing well in the Premier League”

Continued improvement

Leeds came very close to promotion last season. They lost in the playoffs to Frank Lampard’s Derby County after blowing an impressive lead at the top. They look to have learned their lesson and are on course to achieve automatic promotion.

Bielsa coverted Phillips into a deep lying playmaker (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

It is unfortunate that the player isn’t keen on a move away. Converted into a deep-lying playmaker by Bielsa, his talent would have come in handy in our midfield. Add to that his increased fitness levels, signing him should have been a no-brainer.

Phillips’ rise mirrors that of Leeds and he too is now at the cusp of taking the next step.

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Tottenham are currently eighth in the table. We are seven points off the top four with nine games left to go. Let’s hope the return of Harry Kane and Moussa Sissoko helps us swing the tables on our rivals in the race for Champions League football.