Report: Aston Villa eye Leeds star Kalvin Phillips to potentially replace Douglas Luiz
Aston Villa could sell Douglas Luiz in the summer with the Brazilian midfielder’s contract due to expire next year, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper reports that Steven Gerrard wants to sign a new holding midfielder in the next transfer window and Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips is being eyed as a potential replacement for 23-year-old Luiz.
It is understood that Villa recognise that signing Phillips, 26, from Leeds would be “complicated” but billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens will offer their financial backing to Gerrard once more.
Big spenders
Aston Villa fans have witnessed a couple of massive transfer windows over the last year.
While the sale of Jack Grealish to Manchester City brought in most of the funds, there’s no doubt that Sawiris and Edens have also played their part in the continual rebuild at Villa Park.
January was a big month for the Villans, who brought in big signings in Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho.
If Villa are able to sign Phillips in the summer, it could be the biggest.
Phillips has been outstanding for Leeds in recent years.
He was voted as England’s player of the year in 2021 when the Three Lions reached the European Championships final and has also been key to Leeds’ transformation from mid-table Championship club to one that is great to watch in the Premier League.
Unfortunately for Phillips, he’s sat a lot of this season out due to a hamstring injury but he’s due to return soon and will no doubt want to prove his fitness between now and the summer.
If he does, signing him is a no-brainer for Aston Villa.
In other Aston Villa news, the club also wants to sign Aaron Hickey from Bologna in the summer.