Kalvin Phillips set to join ex-Leeds United star as deadline day transfer advances
Kalvin Phillips has had a difficult time of it since leaving Leeds United for Manchester City.
Phillips is a huge fan-favourite at Leeds having risen through the youth ranks at Elland Road, before departing for the Etihad Stadium in a £42million deal in July 2022.
Since then, though, Phillips’ career has completely stagnated having failed to fully convince for Pep Guardiola’s men.
Failed loan moves to West Ham and Ipswich Town have followed, and Phillips has even been linked with a return to Leeds, his boyhood club.
However, it now looks likely that the 30-year-old will be back in Yorkshire elsewhere, and with a former Leeds team-mate of his, too.
Kalvin Phillips linked with Championship switch
Phillips has yet to make a single league appearance for City since returning from his loan stint at Portman Road this term, and he has been consistently linked with an exit from the Etihad.
Now, it appears that the 30-year-old midfielder – whose only City appearance this term came in the EFL Cup – is set to get his wish of regular first-team football, but it will involve dropping down to the Championship.
According to the Telegraph reporter Mike McGrath, Sheffield United are advancing in talks with City to bring Phillips to Bramall Lane.
McGrath adds that there is competition for Phillips’ signature from other teams in Europe, but it looks as though the Blades are set to win the race to complete a loan move.
A switch to Leeds’ Yorkshire rivals would see Phillips reunited with a familiar face in the form of Patrick Bamford, who joined on a free transfer earlier in the season. Phillips and Bamford were part of the Leeds side that won promotion from the Championship back in the 2019-20 season.
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What business could Leeds United do on deadline day?
So, it looks as though Phillips will not be making a romantic return to Elland Road before the close of deadline day in the Premier League at 7pm.
But that does not mean there will not be some movement at Elland Road before the window slams shut later on Monday.
It does, though, appear as though exits may be more likely than incomings, with Joel Piroe and Lucas Perri among those linked with a Leeds departure on deadline day.
Leeds had been linked with Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen but he looks likely to join Crystal Palace, while there has been some suggestion the Whites could line up a late move for FC Krasnodar midfielder Eduard Spertsyan.
It promises to be a busy few hours as clubs look to sort out deal sheets before that all-important deadline.
Stay up to date this winter with our Leeds transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Elland Road, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.