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According to The Telegraph, Aston Villa are set to launch a bid to sign promising Leeds United man Kalvin Phillips.

 What's the word?

Aston Villa's preparation for life back in the top-flight seems to be going well so far after bringing back Anwar El Ghazi and also signing Jota from Birmingham.

However, their attention now appears to be turning to positions further back. They've triggered the option to buy in Kortney Hause's loan contract whilst they've also been linked with a switch for Matt Targett.

One of the latest names to now attract their attention is Leeds' Phillips. The defensive midfielder enjoyed a brilliant campaign under Marcelo Bielsa and could now be the subject of a £14m bid from Villa, per The Telegraph.

That being said, the same report suggests Leeds could demand up to £20m for the 23-year-old so it's a deal that won't come cheap.

Jedinak replacement on the cards

After the departures of Glenn Whelan and Mile Jedinak who were released, Villa will be in desperate need of someone who can sit and protect the back four.

Playing a midfield trio of John McGinn, Conor Hourihane and Jack Grealish is likely to be too attacking for the Premier League and therefore the addition of Phillips makes perfect sense.

Last term Jedinak was a bit part player but found himself featuring both in midfield and defence.

The Australian struggled when playing at centre-back during the opening months of the campaign but bounced back brilliantly in the latter stages of the term, even starring in that position after Tyrone Mings' red card against Rotherham.

Phillips is a player who can also play at centre-back, having featured on 13 occasions in that position throughout 2018/19.

Although his favoured area is holding midfield, it's a clear demonstration of his defensive discipline that he's also been trusted among the backline.

Given the fact Jedinak played a very similar role last season, plotting a bid for the Leeds man is an indication of their willingness to replace him with a likeminded player.

£14m is a considerable fee for someone playing in the Championship, but he certainly fits what Villa should be looking for.