Here are your Leeds United morning headlines on Tuesday, April 5.
Dawson gives Phillips verdict
Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson has admitted that Leeds United can't afford to lose Kalvin Phillips amid potential transfer interest from Aston Villa. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move away from the Whites given their form in the Premier League this season.
The England international returned to action for the first time in four months in the 1-1 draw against Southampton on the weekend. Phillips replaced Mateusz Klich in the 66th minute of the game at Elland Road and he managed to get a good half an hour under his belt given the amount of time that was added on.
READ MORE: Jesse Marsch explains how Jack Harrison is becoming a 'big' player for Leeds United
However, Phillips' future was discussed on Sky Sports after Jeff Stelling claimed that he was on just 25k-a-week. Dawson reacted and believes that he should be on more than that.
"Well, he needs to quadruple that," said Dawson. "After the Euros, you think surely they have gone and said ‘we are giving you a new contract’.
"That just makes people unhappy. He is in the starting XI for England every single week. If he’s fit, him and Declan Rice play. So that surprises me if that’s right.
"He’s a Leeds boy and it’s where he has always been. He could go and get £150k-a-week anywhere else. Realistically, if someone paid £60-70 million for him.
"They don’t want to lose him. They can’t lose him. If you are saying ‘no we aren’t letting you go’, then you have to get paid like that then, that’s the problem.
"Knock on the door ‘if you are saying I am a £60 million worth of a player’. Then that has to be a £100k-a-week player. It has to be – That surprises me that. I think it’s shocked us all that."
Ex-PL referee on Leeds vs Saints decisions
As they so often do, a few contentious refereeing decisions dominated a lot of the post-match talk following Leeds United’s 1-1 draw with Southampton. Goals from Jack Harrison and James Ward-Prowse ultimately decided the result on an afternoon where a draw was probably a fair outcome.
Although, Jesse Marsch and the home supporters inside Elland Road may well have felt as though they deserved a penalty, or two. Firstly, Raphinha was challenged in the penalty area by Ibrahima Diallo before Joe Gelhardt also went to ground with just moments left of the 90 minutes.
After looking at the replays, the latter of the two appeals certainly seemed stronger and the Whites could have felt aggrieved to see it waved away by Anthony Taylor. Speaking on Sky Sports News’ Ref Watch on Monday morning, Dermot Gallagher felt that the referee’s on-field decision was the most important.
“I think if this is going to be a penalty, it’s got to be the referee’s decision,” said the former Premier League referee. “He doesn’t get the ball so it’s a question of does the referee feel that there’s enough contact to give a penalty? He felt no.
“Why I say it has to be the referee's decision is because this would never be thrown to VAR. It’s solely down the referee on the day.”
Leeds games selected for TV coverage
The date and time of three Leeds United matches have been changed as a result of the latest TV selections. Two of those have been chosen for Sky Sports coverage – with Leeds’ trip to Arsenal, as well as the home clash with Chelsea set to be screened live.
Leeds’ game against Brighton – in what is the final game of the season at Elland Road - has also been changed to a 2pm kick-off on Sunday 15 May. Jesse Marsch’s side will be hoping they have secured their Premier League status by the time that fixture rolls around.
It is the second time this campaign that the Whites will be shown live on Sky Sports against the Gunners following the 4-1 defeat at Elland Road in December. That game is now set to get underway at 2pm on Sunday 8 May in the first spot on Super Sunday.
Leeds’ encounter with Chelsea was originally set to be played on Saturday 16 April at 12:30pm, however due to their involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals that weekend, it will instead get underway at 7:30pm on Wednesday 11 May.
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