Could a step backwards be the only way Kalvin Phillips’ career moves forwards again, with Leeds United reportedly in line to welcome back a prodigal son from Manchester City?
According to reports, Leeds have a verbal agreement with the Ipswich Town loanee. One which could see Kalvin Phillips make an emotional return to his beloved boyhood club.
Thus, bringing an end to one of the most disappointing transfers in recent Premier League history. A £47 million acquisition by Manchester City in the summer of 2022, Phillips has technically won six trophies under Pep Guardiola.
He was technically part of that 2022/23 treble winning side, having been in the squad for that Champions League final triumph over Inter Milan.
Yet, the champagne will have tasted ever so slightly bitter, given that the Leeds United fan favourite’s role in those successes was about as integral as Josh Peck’s to Oppenheimer’s Oscar win.
Phillips endured a disastrous loan spell at West Ham United in which everything that could have gone wrong really did go wrong. Misplaced passes leading to opposition goals, red cards, vital penalties given away, you name it.
The 2021 England Player of the Year has not had it quite so rough at Ipswich Town. Though the performances which once made Phillips a regular in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions XI have been few and far between, if present at all.
Kalvin Phillips
So while they say ‘never go back’ – a point Robbie Fowler, Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukaku may agree with – a return to Leeds is starting to feel like a necessary, if slightly desperate, roll of the dice for a man crying out for a six or two.
Should Phillips end up back in familiar surroundings, meanwhile, he could have his favourite shirt number available to him once again.
The Leeds-born 29-year-old ran the show under Marcelo Bielsa with 23 on his back. That is currently a number assigned to Joshua Guilavogui. But with the out-of contract Guilavogui expected to depart Elland Road come the summer, Phillips could slip snugly back into a shirt which fits him very well indeed.
Interestingly, when making that big-money switch to Man City, Phillips opted against taking the number 23 shirt he donned to much success at Elland Road, instead selecting number four.
“It was a number that was presented to me,” Phillips said at the time. “And I thought because at Leeds I had 23, which is one of my favourite numbers, I felt like because it’s a new start I wanted a different number and to try and build a legacy on that number.
“Hopefully, I can.”
Phillips idolises basketball legend LeBron James
It’s fair to say, if you asked Man City fans which name comes to mind when you mention the number four shirt, Phillips will get few mentions alongside the legendary Vincent Kompany.
The one-time European Championship finalist donned number 11 at West Ham and is now wearing four at Ipswich.
Speaking to Soccer Bible back in 2021, meanwhile, the basketball-mad Phillips indicated that his love for the late, great LeBron James was another reason why he tended to gravitate towards the 23.
“I’m not really good at basketball but I’ll probably say LeBron James [is an idol],” he said, pointing out the similarities between his and James’ sporting journeys.
“He is a massive icon for me as a sporting icon. Just in a way that he is. He came from Cleveland karma, played for his hometown club, won a championship with them and then built a school to help the community as much as possible.
“We are very different athletes, we are on a different level, but his path is kind of similar to mine. I’ve watched lots of documentaries about him and I’ve watched a lot of basketball games as well. He is just a person, an athlete, a human that I look up to and aspire to be like.
“He wears the number 23 as well!”
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