It would not be a transfer window with Leeds United now back in the Premier League if The Whites were not linked with a move to re-sign Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City.
It has been three years since Phillips left Leeds to join Manchester City in the summer of 2022. Since then, Phillips has gone from England regular to Premier League failure – leaving The Etihad twice on loan.
Two loan spells that have failed. West Ham saw Phillips struggle, a lack of match fitness shown through major errors, red cards and ultimately injury. A loan to Ipswich this season has resulted in relegation.
Phillips needs a kickstart. His career needs to get back on track, returning to the level that tempted Man City to sign him. Andy Townsend once said that Leeds is the only place Phillips can rediscover his best.
David Prutton discusses Kalvin Phillips return to Leeds United
Reports say Phillips is ‘desperate’ to return to Leeds this summer, with his Man City career over and his Premier League tenure hanging by a thread. But do Leeds really need Phillips, in the state he is in now?
Speaking to Football League World, former Leeds midfielder David Prutton has outlined two issues with The Whites and Daniel Farke bringing Phillips back to Elland Road, three years after his £45m departure.
The first, being the amount of money Phillips is reportedly earning at Man City and whether Leeds can afford that and the second is whether he can get back to the form he produced during Bielsa’s era.
“Whether Leeds want him back remains to be seen, he’s certainly cut it at Premier League level with them. It’s whether they can afford him now, he’ll have a different level of earning potential and going rate.
“I think given how beloved he was at Leeds – they’re not fond of people who leave for ‘bigger and better teams’ – but with Phillips, if they can get back to that form he showed under [Marcelo] Bielsa,” he said.
“A lot has changed, of course, then that type of England international Phillips you would welcome with open arms. It’s just about whether that has changed and whether he can get back to those heights.”
Where does Kalvin Phillips fit into this Leeds United team?
On a few occasions this season, a lack of depth in central midfield has been an issue. Many are of the opinion that Ethan Ampadu is actually better at centre-back than he is in midfield, proving thus of late.
Pascal Struijk’s injury has seen Ampadu drop into defence, but with Joe Rothwell injured – Leeds are left with just two options, Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev. There will certainly be midfield gaps come the summer.
The chances of Rothwell signing permanently, seem undecided. Josuha Guilavogui is expected to leave and with Ampadu at centre-back, it means Leeds would only have Tanaka and Gruev as midfield options.
Leeds need a couple of central midfielders. Can that be Phillips? City want £20m for Phillips if they are to sell him permanently, and even on loan, Phillips’ wages are big. But, that love for Leeds may make it work.
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