Former Leeds United midfielder Michael Brown has said Kalvin Phillips 'needs to be in the Premier League', and expects plenty of interest for the young player in January.
The 23-year-old has been one of Marcelo Bielsa’s brightest sparks as United have made a strong start to the 2019/20 season, having missed out on promotion from the Championship the previous campaign.
And, ahead of the clash with Reading, Brown, who spent three years at Elland Road, was full of praise for the academy graduate – but also sent a warning to Leeds as interest grows in Phillips.
“There are a lot of clubs now watching him,” Brown told Sky Sports.
“There are one or two, I know for sure, in the summer really wanted to take him, the price tag possibly went a little bit high, but he had the ambition. He said ‘I don’t want to join a lower end Premier League club, I set my sights higher.’
“Hopefully, he’ll be in the Premier League next season.”
Brown added: “I love him, he’s a great lad, and that’s what’s even better. When he was coming through the ranks while I was at Leeds United, you could see him develop and you knew he was one to watch.
“He always wanted to listen, he’d come in and join in, and whatever you said, he wants to understand it.
“What’s good about him is he can play as a right-sided central defender, he can at centre-back in a two, he can play as an attacking midfielder or holding, and now he’s said Marcelo Bielsa has found that spot from a holding midfielder. The way they play enables him to do long passes, short passes, get forward at the right time and get himself a couple of goals.
“I think he’s got everything, and that suits him now in that team, being able to hold and attack when needed.”
Phillips’ form has also seen him linked with a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad, with the Three Lions having secured their qualification for next year’s Euros.
“There are so many good midfielders ahead of him,” Brown said. “We saw Jack Grealish last year and it was mentioned about where does he go.
“He needs to be in the Premier League, and I’m sure there will be people sniffing around him in January.
“Leeds need to keep hold of him, which I’m sure they can with where they are in the league, and then in the summer, can he get in the Premier League, and get playing week in, week out which is what he needs to do.
On Phillips’ England credentials, Brown added: “Why not? This kid has got everything.”
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