Kalvin Phillips' comments from 2020 have shed light on his future plans as a transfer battle between Leeds and bitter rivals Manchester United hots up.
The midfielder was recently tagged as the man that the Red Devils have turned to after ending their pursuit of West Ham's Declan Rice and has previously expressed his desire to play European football such as the Champions League.
But, according to the Daily Star, Phillips' current employers have opened talks over a new contract as owner Andrea Radrizzani acknowledges the appeal of a mega-money move.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are desperate for a holding midfielder who can knit the team together, although would have to pay Leeds' reported £60million valuation.
Speaking to GQ ahead of the 2020-21 season when Leeds returned to the Premier League, the 25-year-old admitted: "I want to be a player that's got a lot of games to his name, but I want them to be games that mean something.
"And I want to play in the Europa League, the Champions League".
These are competitions the Red Devils have competed in throughout their illustrious history.
But Phillips made sure to not count out representing his boyhood club on the continental stage, as they did from 1998 to 2003, when the academy graduate, who joined the club at 15, was growing up.
"With Leeds, and the way that we’re heading, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t," he said, before Marcelo Bielsa and co. finished 9th upon their top-flight return after a 16-year absence.
Ahead of Leeds' meeting with United at Elland Road in April, which ended 0-0, team-mate Patrick Bamford revealed Phillips' family's feelings towards the Old Trafford outfit, saying they "hated" the Red Devils.
The Peacocks star is well-acquainted with some United players, however, such as fellow England internationals Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho.
Should Man Utd target an audacious swoop for Phillips? Comment your thoughts below.
The biggest hole in Solskjaer's squad is the kind of role Phillips operates in for the Yorkshire side.
Demonstrated by the Red Devils' struggles against Villarreal last night, it appears the Norwegian does not have the personnel to play a single defensive midfielder.
Scott McTominay and Fred are often the trusted combination, while Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba have often struck up a hit and miss partnership.
Phillips' ability to hold a team like Bielsa's together would suit United's desired dynamic approach and not leave them as open without playing two midfielders behind an attacking quartet.
