Danny Mills has labelled Leeds United’s sale of Kalvin Phillips as ‘a bit cheap’ with the Whites midfielder set to undergo his Manchester City medical today (Friday, July 1). The Premier League champions agreed an initial £42million deal last Friday, with add-ons taking the potential total up to around £55million.
The 26-year-old travelled across the Pennines on Friday morning to undertake his medical, while personal terms are expected to fall into place without much issue. A deal for the midfielder could be confirmed as quickly as this weekend, with 18-year-old midfielder Darko Gyabi coming the other way in a separate deal worth around £5million.
Those in charge at Elland Road had initially wanted as much as £60million for the midfield lynchpin, but were weakened in their negotiating position by the fact that Pep Guardiola’s side were the only serious suitors - Phillips had also made clear that he only wanted to go to the Etihad. And former Leeds and City full-back Mills has labelled the deal ‘a bit cheap’, adding that the signing of the unproven Gyabi was a confusing decision.
“I think £42million is a little bit cheap for Kalvin Phillips.” Mills told TalkSPORT . “I'm a little bit surprised about that. He's got two years left on his deal, Kalvin wasn’t desperate to go, he wasn't banging the doors down saying ‘let me go’.
“From Leeds you’re saying it’s going to have to be £60-70million to get Kalvin Phillips out of Leeds. To suddenly go to £42million - when you look at Yves Bissouma who is going to be around £35million-plus, and he only had a year left (on his contract). I think it's a good move for Kalvin Phillips, and Leeds were going to have to sell him at some point, I just think it's a bit cheap.
“Leeds are going to buy a Manchester City 18-year-old for £5million who has never played in the first team. Clearly the deals are linked in some way, but again that seems… you're selling Kalvin Phillips for £42million and then buying an unproven teenager that they took from Millwall at 14-years-old, now 18 and who has never been near the first team for £5million.”
Mills cut an exasperated figure while making the point, with radio show co-host Jim White labelling the deals as ‘baffling’. Victor Orta will have to reinvest the money swiftly and wisely as he looks to find a suitable replacement for the Whites talisman.
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