Leeds United’s plans to sign a new midfielder have hit a couple of red and white stumbling blocks this week. But the answer might be hidden in plain sight for Daniel Farke.
Leeds United have been peppered by Sunderland in the transfer market this week. Daniel Farke’s side have been dealt a bit of a reality check by the plucky Sunderland who’ve signed Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki, whilst closing in on deals for fellow Leeds targets Djordje Petrovic and Reinildo Mandava.
The Diarra deal in particular will hurt Leeds. It was reported that Leeds United had made multiple bids for Diarra and were even willing to go up to the £25million mark, until Sunderland gazumped the Whites with a £30million bid.
The central midfield position desperately needs some quality adding to it this summer: Farke’s only real options right now are Ao Tanaka, Ilia Gruev, and Ethan Ampadu, though there’s every chance the latter fills in in defence again next season.
So after missing out on Sadiki and Diarra who were two central players, deeper than no.10s, Farke will have to turn elsewhere, and he may turn to Kalvin Phillips.
Kalvin Phillips in action for Leeds United.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
The latest on Kalvin Phillips’ future at Man City amid Leeds United links
Phillips is set to leave Man City this summer, three years after his £42million move from Elland Road to the Etihad. It’s certainly not been a successful move for Phillips nor Man City, but reports since the turn of the year have backed Leeds United to re-sign Phillips this summer.
And Phillips is open to returning to Leeds too. But the 29-year-old would have to take huge pay cut before Farke considers him, and whether or not Phillips is open to doing so remains to be seen with a contract until 2028 and Man City.
Last month, reports backed Phillips to leave Man City later in the summer once clubs have done the bulk of their business, with Phillips likely not being a priority signing for many clubs in the Premier League, Leeds possibly included.
Kalvin Phillips warming up for Ipswich Town ahead of facing Fulham.
Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images
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Kalvin Phillips is security for Leeds United, he could be a solid option
Leeds fans love Phillips. He was a great player for the club but whether he still has the capacity or the mentality to compete in the Premier League remains to be seen, after some rather mixed loan spells with Ipswich Town and West Ham the season before.
So far this summer, Leeds have been linked with several midfielders and expect Farke to have several others on his radar after missing out on Diarra and Sadiki, with some obscure European names likely to emerge in headlines in the very near future.
But if nothing comes up then Phillips seems like a banker: he’s likely to move later in the window, could be available on loan or permanently, and he’d surely give preference over a move to Leeds if they came in for him.
It’s not the worst option and certainly a solid one to fall back on if Leeds United suffer more frustration in the transfer market.