Leeds United fans might be excited about Kalvin Phillips possibly returning to the club but they may not like what he said about the prospect last year.
Though there’s still plenty of the season to go and the Championship title race is still heating up, Leeds United appear to be making moves ahead of the summer transfer window already.
It has emerged this week that Leeds are moving to bring Kalvin Phillips back to the club after three years of torment at Manchester City.
The move has reportedly been given the ‘green light’ by Pep Guardiola while TeamTalk reports that Leeds have reached a ‘verbal agreement’ with Phillips.
A deal still needs to be agreed with City – who are said to be asking for £20m for the 29-year-old – but it’s looking possible that Leeds will be bringing one of their best hometown heroes back to Elland Road.
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Kalvin Phillips on whether he would have joined Leeds last summer
It’s not the first time this transfer has come close, as Leeds nearly signed Phillips last summer.
The Whites’ failure to gain promotion to the Premier League after suffering Play-off final heartbreak to Southampton was the deciding factor in the midfielder choosing Ipswich Town instead.
However, when speaking about the transfer in November last year, Phillips admitted he might have still joined Ipswich even if Leeds were promoted.
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Phillips told the East Anglian Daily Times: “I went to that game and was devastated they didn’t go up.
“Obviously, I wanted Leeds to get promoted. It’s a club very close to my heart.
“Even if Leeds had been promoted and Ipswich had maybe come up in the play-offs then it still would have been a very close call as to where I’d have gone because I just love the story of Ipswich.”
It’s an admission that might not thrill Leeds fans too much ahead of his possible return a year later.
Kalvin Phillips stats at Ipswich Town
Phillips’ career has completely stagnated since leaving Leeds as he was never given a chance at City.
A loan stint at West Ham last season was disastrous but he has finally started to get things back on track on loan at the Tractor Boys this season.
Games Goals Assists Yellow cards Red cards
19 1 0 3 1
It hasn’t been without its hiccups – like being sent off in his seventh game – yet, he has quietly put in some solid and industrious performances in recent weeks.
It likely won’t be enough to save Ipswich from relegation but Phillips has shown he is still capable of performing at Premier League level.