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‘It’s a nightmare’ – Pundit who worked with 26 y/o says ‘difficult decision’ benefits Man City

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Kalvin Phillips is nearing a move to Manchester City this summer after an agreement was reached with Leeds United, but Leeds’ ex-academy head Lucy Ward says ‘it’s a nightmare’ for her former club.

The 26-year-old was born in Leeds and graduated from their academy in his teens, spending his entire professional career at Elland Road. It wouldn’t have been easy to leave a boyhood club, so Ward concedes Phillips made a ‘difficult decision’ to join City and notes that Pep Guardiola benefits from Leeds’ loss.

She said on talkSPORT: “As far as Leeds are concerned it’s a nightmare, but one that all of the fans were expecting. He’s the sort of player that Man City will benefit from. I think it will have been a difficult decision, but it’s come at the right time for him.”

Ward knows the England international personally, having been a former Leeds player (1996 – 2002) (2003 – 2009) and working at the men’s academy, so she’s delighted he been headhunted by a Premier League giant.

She added: “Kalvin came to me when I was working at the academy and came to us as an U15. I know him and his family really well. He deserves a move to a team who are going to compete for the Champions League, so I’m absolutely chuffed to bits for him.”

Phillips made 233 appearances in all competitions for Leeds, scoring 13 goals with 13 assists. He’s been a brilliant servant for the Whites but had a disappointing last season – 18/38 Premier League starts and 1595/3420 minutes amassed.

The 26-year-old had a lot of interest despite the poor campaign, but he only had his sights on City. Phillips didn’t want to leave his boyhood club for a sideways move.

In other news, Darren Bent hails Man City for closing in on ‘top player’ Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United

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Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.

0 comments

  • Alexander Johnson says:

    Another Crappy Cooke crap fest.

  • Barry Butteree says:

    It makes me actually sick that we would sell him when he still has 2 years left on his contract. But what really makes me angry is the bargain price of the year just look at the fees being thrown around yet we negotiate down from a ridiculously low starting fee. Still if we had kept him another year we would have let him go on a free. We obviously don’t need the money

  • steve mcmillan says:

    Everyone moans at the top six being so far ahead, but then sell their best players to them?? As for a disappointing season, he was injured you numpty. I fear that KP will disappear just like our other exports. It’s clearly a money thing. I mean who wants to look at their medal collection and feel proud of being a bench warmer? Look at Grealish? 100 million to sit on a bit of wood. I believe that KP went too cheaply but I also believe that he is replaceable. City are just buying for the sake of buying. The youth are suffering and we are breeding players that would rather pick up silly money rather than play. KP will rue this move.

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