---
title: "Aston Villa: Gregg Evans drops fresh Kalvin Phillips claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-gregg-evans-drops-fresh-kalvin-phillips-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Aston Villa"
published: "2022-01-31T07:15:05Z"
modified: "2022-01-31T07:15:05Z"
---

# Aston Villa: Gregg Evans drops fresh Kalvin Phillips claim

**Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips is a long-term target for Aston Villa, according to The Athletic’s [Gregg Evans](https://twitter.com/greggevans40/status/1487753393196220416).**

### The Lowdown: Midfielder wanted

Villa have enjoyed a fairly productive transfer window this month, bringing in [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/transfers/verein/405) senior players with Calum Chambers the latest to arrive from Arsenal.

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However, the club were looking to bolster their [midfield](https://twitter.com/greggevans40/status/1479722514620243970) ranks during the winter window, with bids made for [Yves Bissouma](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-transfers-bissouma-bentancur-22847891) and [Rodrigo Bentancur](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jan/28/aston-villa-rodrigo-bentancur-bid-turned-down-by-juventus-transfer).

Evans [revealed](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-fans-react-to-kalvin-phillips-claim/) at the beginning of the month that Villa still admire Phillips after attempting to sign the Whites star in [2019](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/kalvin-phillips-villa-leeds-united-20171752).

### The Latest: Evans’ tweet

[Evans](https://twitter.com/greggevans40/status/1487753393196220416) took to Twitter on Sunday morning to provide an update on Villa’s pursuit of a midfielder.

He revealed that the club won’t pay Brighton’s asking price for Bissouma, while a deal couldn’t be agreed for Bentancur. The reliable reporter added that Phillips is ‘also’ a long-term target.

> “Aston Villa have been after Yves Bissouma since the summer but won’t pay the price Brighton are asking. Kalvin Phillips is also a long-term target as reported last month. Bentancur scouted but couldn’t agree a deal. DM search may now go into next season…”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”363813″\]

### The Verdict: Ambitious…

Phillips, who shared his love for [Steven Gerrard](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-leeds-transfer-phillips-22610425) over the summer, has also been linked with a move to [Liverpool](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/17343694/liverpool-phillips-leeds-transfer-real-madrid/) and [Manchester United](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/17480675/man-utd-aurelien-tchouameni-chelsea-liverpool-man-city/) in recent months, so you could argue that a possible move to Villa Park would be an ambitious one.

West Ham were quickly [shut down](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1487721544067465218) in their late pursuit of both Phillips and Raphinha this weekend, so the 26-year-old could be a player in demand ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Should Villa and numerous other sides firm up their interest, that could spark a bidding war in excess of the [£50m](https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1487705357484965888) the Hammers were preparing to offer this month, meaning he could become Villa’s [club-record signing](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/transferrekorde/verein/405) by some distance.

***In other news: [‘Oh my days’, ‘Are you joking?’ – Many Aston Villa fans erupt at late exit update.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-fans-react-to-tottenhams-douglas-luiz-interest/)***