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Norwich City transfer rumours: Leeds midfielder touted with Canaries

Kalvin Phillips tries to get to grips with Teemu Pukki at Carrow Road Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd Paul Chesterton

Leeds combative young midfielder Kalvin Phillips is interesting Norwich City and Premier League rivals Bournemouth and Southampton.

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Football journalist Pete O'Rourke claimed on Monday afternoon the Canaries were ready to join the race for the £15m-rated defensive midfielder following the Whites' failed Championship promotion push.

The 23-year-old has two years left on his existing Elland Road deal but Phillips was one of the stand out performers under Marcelo Bielsa over the recent campaign. The Leeds-bred prospect made 42 Championship appearances and featured in the 3-0 league win at Carrow Road earlier this season.

Phillips was an unused substitute when Norwich won the corresponding fixture in Yorkshire on their march to the Championship title.

O'Rourke claims the Cherries lead the race but Southampton have scouted Phillips extensively with Norwich monitoring developments and weighing up whether to test Leeds' resolve.

Talksport pundit Danny Murphy feels Phillips will not be short of suitors.

"I like the lad, Phillips. Good player, he is. I was really, really impressed with him in the games I saw," he said. "Calm, good passer, two-footed. Do you think he's capable of (playing at a higher level) because I'd be amazed if somebody didn't snap him up.

"It's a compliment (to Leeds). They've nurtured him, coached him and got him (to this level). But, for me, he's the one that I thought, he's going to go. I think one of the problems for Leeds now, I don't know what they're going to put in again financially, but some of those players, talented players, will be being looked at. And players have this ambition to play in (the Premier League)."

LIKELIHOOD

Phillips operates in an area of the field that is a clear priority for Norwich, ahead of their return to the Premier League. The right age profile and capable of further improvement under Daniel Farke's coaching.

But at that reported £15m price tag City would simply not be able to compete, in terms of the financial package either of the other Premier League clubs could potentially offer.