---
title: "Leeds: Kevin Phillips reacts to John Buckley interest"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-kevin-phillips-reacts-to-john-buckley-interest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United"
published: "2022-01-19T11:15:27Z"
modified: "2022-01-19T11:15:27Z"
---

# Leeds: Kevin Phillips reacts to John Buckley interest

**Pundit Kevin Phillips has been reacting to Leeds United’s interest in Blackburn Rovers midfielder John Buckley, [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/phillips-issues-big-buckley-claim-after-skys-leeds-transfer-update/) report.**

### The Lowdown: Midfielders wanted

Victor Orta is thought to be [‘busy’](https://twitter.com/mirroranderson/status/1483542250336534529?s=21) when it comes to searching for midfield reinforcements at Elland Road, with the Whites after RB Salzburg’s Brenden Aaronson.

\[freshpress-poll id=”385214″\]

Leeds have had a [£15m](https://twitter.com/samstejskal/status/1483520390064451584) bid turned down for the American but are [intent](https://twitter.com/samstejskal/status/1483520390064451584) on signing the 21-year-old before the end of the month.

Buckley is another player of [interest](https://www.footballinsider247.com/phillips-issues-big-buckley-claim-after-skys-leeds-transfer-update/) to Leeds, with Burnley also keen on the 22-year-old, who can play as a [central, defensive or right midfielder](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/john-buckley/profil/spieler/503781).

### The Latest: Phillips reacts

Phillips, who regularly features for [Sky Sports](https://icdb.tv/stats/3186/Kevin-Phillips), was talking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/phillips-issues-big-buckley-claim-after-skys-leeds-transfer-update/) regarding Leeds’ interest in Buckley.

He labelled Buckley being versatile as a ‘bonus’ and labelled a possible deal as ‘big’.

> “Blackburn have been in great form this season and he’s been a big part of that. If you get a good player from a club that is flying in the Championship midway through the season you’ve done well.
>
> “He’s a centre-midfielder which is a position Leeds desperately need to strengthen in. He’s versatile as well which is a bonus, so it’s a big signing if they can do it.
>
> “At the end of the day though, it’s always a gamble signing a player from the Championship. It’s a jump to the Premier League. It could be a signing that pays off though.
>
> “From Blackburn’s point of view, there is no way \[Tony\] Mowbray will let any of those players go on the cheap.”

### The Verdict: Shrewd move?

It seems as if Leeds will need to spend big on Aaronson after having a £15m offer rejected. Should they manage to bring the American to Elland Road, then perhaps funds will be limited when it comes to the club’s search for a deeper midfielder.

Buckley could be the perfect addition then considering his £720,000 [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/john-buckley/profil/spieler/503781) valuation, but you’d expect Leeds may have to pay way more than that figure given he has been a [regular](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/john-buckley/leistungsdaten/spieler/503781) in an impressive Rovers side this season.

A fee under eight figures could still be a shrewd move in the long run, with Buckley possibly Marcelo Bielsa’s dream player after already playing in [eight](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/john-buckley/leistungsdaten/spieler/503781) different positions in [27](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/john-buckley/leistungsdaten/spieler/503781) games in 2021/22.

***In other news: [Positive Leeds injury claim regarding two players emerges.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/phillips-coopers-leeds-injury-latest-return-date/)***