Kalvin Phillips’ emotional Leeds return now unlikely after major update emerges
Kalvin Phillips turned into an exceptional player during the last few years of his spell at Leeds United.
An academy graduate becoming an England international is a proud moment for any club, and it was no different with Phillips at Leeds.
Phillips was an integral member of Marcelo Bielsa’s promotion-winning side back in 2020, and he proved he was more than capable of making the step up to the Premier League.
However, after his blockbuster move to Manchester City in 2022, Phillips’ career has stalled, but the 29-year-old may have just been handed a lifeline.
Pep Guardiola to name Kalvin Phillips in Manchester City Premier League squad
Phillips was linked with a return to Leeds over the summer, but a move for the holding midfielder never materialised.
Given Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu’s injury troubles at the start of the season, Phillips could have been a solid addition at Leeds and would be a massive upgrade on Ilia Gruev, for example.
Following two underwhelming loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich, respectively, Phillips looked like his career at City would be done after failing to ever establish himself since his move to Manchester.
However, reports from Mike McGrath in The Telegraph on 12 September suggest Phillips could be handed what would be his final opportunity to impress at Man City by Guardiola.
The Spanish manager is set to name the midfielder in his 25-man Premier League squad later on Friday, in what is an unexpected turn of events.
- Phillips started just two Premier League games for City in the 2022/23 season
- The tough-tackling midfielder started just three times the year after, despite being loaned to West Ham in January
- The Leeds academy graduate found more consistent gametime during his loan spell at Ipswich last season, starting 14 games in a campaign that saw them relegated from the Premier League
Phillips’ reintegration into the City squad appears to have poured cool water on rumours of a potential return to West Yorkshire for the former England international.
49ers wise to avoid Kalvin Phillips deal this summer
Although the 49ers have been criticised for their lack of business towards the back-end of the transfer window, the decision not to bring Phillips back to Elland Road was wise.
Even though he is a far better player than Gruev, the Englishman looks to be completely past his best, and it would have been too much of a gamble to bring him in considering his injuries, lack of gametime and poor form over recent seasons.
With the resources that Leeds had, there were far more pressing matters to address within the squad, as Ampadu has already proved he is more than capable of playing the role Phillips used to so well in a white shirt.
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