Former striker Tony Cascarino has slammed for failing to compete for the signing of .
The 26-year-old has cemented his position as a key component of Gareth Southgate’s England side and enhanced his reputation with a series of commanding displays during last summer’s European Championships.
Phillips is ready to make a step up in his club career, however, after a fee was agreed between the two clubs on Friday.
United, meanwhile, have made a slow start to their summer dealings, .
The Netherlands international was earmarked as Ten Hag’s No.1 target but the former Ajax star initially had little interest in moving to Old Tafford before he was persuaded by his former manager.
Cascarino, however, believes Phillips would have represented a smarter signing given he boasts many of the qualities currently lacking in United’s engine room.
He told talkSPORT: ‘I don’t know why Man United haven’t made a move for Kalvin Phillips. Now they might say well we tried to and he’d already decided he was going to City.
‘But he is exactly what United need for me. He might not have wanted to go there and that might have been the reason but there wasn’t seemingly any competition from a club who I think sorely need that type of player.
‘I think it’s a huge miss in their team. A ball winning player that can keep it and let other players do their thing. He does that as well as anybody.’
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