City land Phillips for £45m

Lure of Champions League tips balance for Leeds star

MANCHESTER City are closing in on a £45million deal for Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Terms are expected to be finalised next week, with City paying£42mpl us a further £3 min add-ons for the 26-year-old who is currently away on holiday. Phillips is expected to earn around £155,000 a week.

Sportsmail revealed earlier this month that talkslks were expected to take place following England’snd’s games accelerated and negotiations iad this week after Phillips changed agents.

Leeds had been resigned to losing Phillips (right) and had discussed thee possibility of players - moving iinn exchange.

However, a separatearate £5m deal for 18-year- is now beingng old midfielder finalised finalld Darko Gyabi to move from City to Elland Road. Gyabi will sign a four-year- deal with Leeds, pending a medical next week.

Phillips has two years left on his contract at Leeds and had indicated during last season that he was happy to stay beyond that, but talks over a new deal were not forthcoming.

Aston Villa and Newcastle were interested in signing the academy graduate, and Leeds rejected a £55m offer from West Ham in January. All three remained keen but Phillips only wanted to leave Leeds for what he viewed as a step up. The challenge of a move to the Premier League champions and the prospect of Champions League football was appealing, though he recognises he faces a battle to hold down a first-team place.

Leeds havehav signed Marc Roca from Bayernern MunichMu and,an despitede a pending agreementa for Gyabi,G have been lookinglo for another holdingho midfielder withwit Leipzig’s Tyler AdamsAda one of the namesname under discussion. sion.discussion. TThey also expect improved offers for winger Raphinha after rejectingr Arsenal’s bid of £30m plus add- ons earlier this week. Tottenham and Chelsea are also interested in the Brazilian who is valued at £65m.

Despite the funds coming in, Leeds are not expected to be rash with spending. PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo and Adama Traore of Wolves are also both on their list of targets. Jesse March also wants to add an experienced goalkeeper — with Watford’s Ben Foster among the names mentioned.

City could follow their move for Phillips with a £40million offer for Brighton left back Marc Cucurella.