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Tottenham boss Conte 'a fan' of Kalvin Phillips but move rests on major Daniel Levy doubt
ANTONIO CONTE has supposedly got his eyes set on Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, but his services would not come cheap.
Conte calls on Tottenham to 'learn lesson' after Brighton defeat
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte is an admirer of Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to reports. While the Italian gears up for a crunch few games that could define Spurs' season, talks will soon begin on plans for the summer and doubts remain over whether chairman Daniel Levy would be willing to cough up the necessary cash for such a coveted signing.
Conte has enough on his plate at present with only one place left to fight for in the top four. Defeat at home to Brighton last time out, and indeed the nature of it, was certainly concerning and opened the door to their rivals.
But Manchester United's humiliating defeat against Liverpool on Tuesday night appears to have narrowed down the contenders to Spurs and Arsenal. While local bragging rights and a spot in next season's Champions League are both crucial, those at the club would be wise to prepare for a big summer.
Conte, Levy and sporting director Fabio Paratici will soon put their heads together, and The Telegraph claim that the manager is a fan of Phillips. As shown in the January transfer window, however, he is not guaranteed to be granted every transfer wish.
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Phillips is a man in demand, and serious 'questions' remain over whether Levy would be willing to match Man Utd in their own prospective swoop. Exactly how much he would cost remains a matter of debate, but it is widely expected to be more than £50million.
The 26-year-old is a crucial cog in Leeds' midfield and has grown into a concrete favourite of England boss Gareth Southgate. It may be tricky to prise him away from Leeds, his hometown club, but their struggles this season may ultimately usher him towards the exit door this summer.
While the transfer fee would be crucial, as with any deal, the prospect of moving to Tottenham over United could suit the midfielder as an Old Trafford switch would be seen by many as an act of betrayal. The likes of Rio Ferdinand and Alan Smith have trod the same path before, but Phillips may never be viewed the same again by Leeds fans if he joined up with their bitter rivals.
Levy has proven himself to be a tough operator in the transfer market, and does not always bow down and give managers the funds they want. He famously stood firm on Manchester City's interest in Harry Kane last summer, pinning him with a colossal £200m price-tag which effectively kept him in north London.
Conte may have earned some transfer market trust since his November appointment, however. Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski were both recruited in January, and while the former has added composure and tempo to the Spurs midfield, the latter has wasted no time in racking up goals and assists.
In an ideal summer, the Lilywhites are also believed to be eyeing up a new centre-back, wing-back, midfielder, striker and goalkeeper.