With Kalvin Phillips looking set to leave Manchester City in the 2025 summer transfer window, the England international has, inevitably, been linked with a return to Leeds United.
Kalvin Phillips was one of the most important cogs in the Marcelo Bielsa machine that won promotion back to the top flight in 2020 and stormed to a ninth-place finish the following year.
The Leeds academy product’s form earned him a mega-money move to Manchester City to work under Pep Guardiola. However, form and fitness have deserted Phillips and his career has stalled. He failed to find his best form during loan spells with West Ham and Ipswich and now looks set to leave City.
Although Leeds have been named as a potential destination, Daniel Farke and his recruitment team must resist the temptation to bring him back to Elland Road, with their recent draw against Villarreal showing exactly why.
Leeds United do not need to bring back Kalvin Phillips
Farke is expected to alternate between a 4-3-3 and a 4-5-1 formation once the Premier League season gets underway, as he looks to balance the need for defensive solidity and a cutting edge in attack.
Leeds began the pre-season friendly against Villarreal with a midfield trio of club captain Ethan Ampadu and new signings Sean Longstaff, and Anton Stach. They provided a stable base against their La Liga opponents.
However, despite naming three central midfielders from the start, Farke was still able to call upon the dependable Ilya Gruev and one of the stars of Leeds’ promotion campaign, Ao Tanaka, from the bench.
Leeds United’s central midfield options:
- Ethan Ampadu
- Sean Longstaff
- Anton Stach
- Ao Tanaka
- Ilya Gruev
- Brenden Aaronson
With Brenden Aaronson also capable of playing as an advanced number eight, Farke currently has six options to choose from in central midfield, three of which are more defensively-minded.
As a result, Phillips would face stiff competition for his place in the Leeds team. Although there is a definite sentimental appeal to a potential Phillips return, as things stand, Farke’s priorities lie elsewhere.
Ethan Ampadu can make his mark in the Premier League
Although Phillips continues to be linked with a return to Elland Road, the presence of Ethan Ampadu means he would not be a guaranteed starter for the club.
Having joined Chelsea from Exeter early in his career, the highly-rated Ampadu had to take a roundabout route back to the Premier League, following loan spells with RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Venezia and Spezia before a permanent move to Leeds.
| Ethan Ampadu – 2024/25 stats | Total |
| Successful passes | 1,985 |
| Pass accuracy | 90.5% |
| Tackles won | 27 |
| Duels won | 148 |
| Aerial duels won | 61 |
| Recoveries | 129 |
Since joining Leeds, Ampadu has found his feet and his best form. Covering both in defence and midfield, according to Fotmob, he maintained a pass accuracy of 90.5% last season. He also won 148 ground duels and 61 aerial duels, recovering the ball 129 times.
Ampadu has stepped into Phillips’ shoes since joining the club. While he is at Leeds, it is hard to see where Phillips would fit in the squad.
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