Leeds United were inevitably going to be linked with a move to sign Kalvin Phillips this summer after promotion back to the Premier League, while Ipswich Town face a return to the Championship.
Leeds have a big task on their hands to ensure they have a fighting chances of finishing outside the bottom three next season.
In the last two seasons, all three sides that have come up, have come straight back down – including Kalvin Phillips’ current loan club Ipswich Town.
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Could Kalvin Phillips return to Leeds United after Ipswich Town relegation?
With Leeds now back in the Premier League, there are a lot of very unsurprising transfer links cropping up, including speculation around Phillips coming back to Elland Road three years on from his £45million Manchester City move.
(Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
With the Tractor Boys heading out of the top flight, EADT journalist Stuart Watson assessed what’s next this summer for Phillips and the other three Town loanees, noting the midfielder’s Leeds connection as an indicator of where he could move.
“He’s not going to be in Pep Guardiola’s plans as Man City look to wrestle back their crown and he’s not going to walk away from a bumper contract there either, so another loan spell looks nailed on,” Watson writes.
“The injury record this season means there will probably be less suitors this summer then there were last. The obvious destination would be a return to Leeds, a place he was adored, following their return to the Premier League. The Yorkshire club might just feel there’s no room for sentiment though as they look to buck the trend of newly-promoted clubs going straight back down.
“If the above is the case then could a return to Ipswich on loan, in the Championship, be a possibility? ‘Highly unlikely’ would be my verdict. Even if he was up for it, it would be hard for the club to justify a sizeable chunk of the budget going that way. If it’s not Leeds, I could see a loan spell abroad.”
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Leeds United need to be avoiding Kalvin Phillips reunion this summer
The emotion of a Phillips return is the only reason why it’s a discussion that we might consider signing him, or that it can even be a debate.
Having been in and out of the lineup for a very poor relegated side, he’s not performed like someone who would enhance our squad for next season.
If we want a loan signing to bulk up our midfield, it’s got to be someone that can add to what we’ve currently got on top of Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev.