Former Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips completed a deadline-day move to join Sheffield United on loan from Manchester City on Monday evening.
The midfielder has been a fringe player in Pep Guardiola’s squad since he returned to the club last summer and was heavily linked with a return to Leeds.
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However, the Whites never really made a concrete move to sign him during the last two transfer windows. They focused on other players and didn’t see any sense in bringing Phillips back to Elland Road.
Manchester City were desperate to shift the player on the final day of the transfer window, and they eventually agreed to a major compromise in the final hours of the transfer window.
Kalvin Phillips joining Sheffield United required major concessions from Manchester City
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is pleased at securing a midfielder who already knows what it takes to win promotion, having achieved it with Leeds in the past.
Phillips has joined his former Leeds teammate Patrick Bamford at Bramall Lane, while another ex-Leeds promotion hero, Joe Rothwell, has also joined the club on a permanent deal.
The England midfielder hopes to rekindle his career at Sheffield United and in the Championship. However, the negotiations for the loan deal ran until the final hours of the window.
According to the Sheffield Star, it required Manchester City to agree to a major compromise at the 11th hour for the deal to go through.
The Premier League giants agreed to subsidise a huge part of his salary to help Sheffield United afford a deal to sign Phillips on loan on deadline day.
The former Leeds midfielder was also keen on the move as he wanted to return to his native Yorkshire to rekindle his career.
It is unclear whether Sheffield United have any plans to sign him on a permanent deal following the end of his loan stint at the end of the season.
Phillips needs this loan to work out
The former Leeds man is back in Yorkshire and will be playing in the Championship for the first time since getting promoted with the Whites in 2020.
Kalvin Phillips’ Championship record
Championship Career Stats
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Phillips had two unsuccessful loan spells at West Ham and Ipswich Town, which didn’t go anywhere. He hopes that the stint at Bramall Lane will be different.
Chris Wilder has already found something extra from Patrick Bamford this season and will look to get the former Leeds midfielder going as well.
A solid spell at Sheffield United could open up fresh opportunities at the end of the season, when he will look to leave Manchester City on a permanent deal.
Phillips’ career needs a shot in the arm, and he will hope Wilder makes the same impact on him as he did with Bamford this season.