Manchester United will target Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips after ending their trasnfer pursuit of West Ham 's Declan Rice, according to reports.
Rice has been heavily linked to the Red Devils as a candidate to resolve their defensive midfield issues.
But with other Premier League sides also interested in the England international and his club likely to hold out for a hefty transfer fee, his Three Lions team-mate, Phillips, now appears to be the man United want.
The Daily Star say that the Red Devils' executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been put off by West Ham's £90 million valuation of Rice, while Liverpool lead the race for Borussia Dortmund sensation Jude Bellingham, also a long-term target.
That has turned Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and co's sights to the 25-year-old, who plays for bitter rivals Leeds and has enjoyed a superb rise through his boyhood club's academy, proving to be a linchpin under Marcelo Bielsa.
He shone for England at Euro 2020, winning the men's Player of the Year award for 2020-21 and becoming a key cog in Gareth Southgate's side as they reached the final this summer.
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Although United are despised by fans of the Yorkshire side, United have lured the likes of Eric Cantona, Alan Smith and Rio Ferdinand to Old Trafford before under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Daniel James recently went the other way during the final days of the summer transfer window which indicates business can be done.
But the Daily Star add that Leeds value Phillips at £60 million and he has a contract at Elland Road until 2024 and is beloved among the fan base.
The midfielder is already well-acquainted with a number of Red Devils, having spent time with Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho over the course of the European Championships.
A number of pundits have tipped Phillips to soon depart as the Peacocks struggle to replicate their form from their first foray back in the Premier League last season.
Ex-Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink recently told Sky Sports , via Leeds Live : "He is magnificent, he can tackle, he can pass, he can head the ball and run forward with the ball.
"It’s going to be hard for Leeds to keep him this season, Leeds need to keep on kicking on and grow as a club to keep him here."
A player of Phillips' calibre would no-doubt been a huge boost Solskjaer, who has persisted with two holding midfielders such as Fred and Scott McTominay in recent times.
But the Peacocks star is able to operate as more of a lone central rock, something that would allow United to flood their team with more attackers knowing Phillips would be there to mop up any counter attacks.
