Manchester City could be set to make a surprising U-turn involving former Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips. The England international joined the Blues in 2022 for a hefty £45million transfer.
However, his career at the Etihad Stadium was marred by an early-season injury that required surgery. By the time he regained full fitness, it was time for the mid-season World Cup in Qatar. Upon his return from England duty, Phillips' City career seemed to have hit a dead end.
City's manager Pep Guardiola criticised Phillips' physical condition upon his return, with Phillips ending the season with a mere 21 appearances. By the following January, he had been loaned out to West Ham United, before spending the 2024/25 season at Ipswich Town.
As this year's summer transfer window approached, it seemed inevitable that Phillips would leave on a permanent deal. However, it appears that Guardiola and his team might be about to throw him an unexpected lifeline, reports the Express.
According to The Telegraph, Manchester City are set to include Phillips in their 25-man squad for the 2025/26 Premier League season. This move marks a shift from their initial plan for the Yorkshire-born player and could offer Phillips an opportunity to revive his career at City.
Despite not having played since May, it's suggested that Guardiola might give Phillips a chance in upcoming matchday squads.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Leeds United Terrace Icons
Phillips was spotted training with City earlier this week, and with a packed fixture list looming, he could provide some much-needed relief for the Blues' starting midfielders. Alternatively, with a vacancy at right-back, Guardiola's knack for transforming midfielders into fullbacks could hint at a new role for Phillips?
City are back in Premier League action this weekend as they host Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium. Last season, Guardiola failed to outsmart Ruben Amorim in all three encounters, leading to speculation that the Portuguese manager has figured out how to counter his Catalan counterpart.
The 2023 Treble winners can ill afford any further setbacks after losing to Brighton and Hove Albion before the international break.
Here at LeedsLive, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Leeds United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest Leeds news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.