Leeds United have again been linked with a possible move to reunite with midfielder Kalvin Phillips, currently seeing out his loan at relegated Ipswich Town under Kieran McKenna.
With the possibilities wide open for the sorts of players Leeds could sign, it would be naive of Leeds to fixate on players purely through sentiment.
However, it doesn’t stop suggestions for Leeds to pursue moves for former players or those that have previously worked with Daniel Farke.
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Kieran McKenna gives telling Kalvin Phillips insight amid Leeds United transfer links
Leeds’ return to the top flight was instantly greeted with speculation linking them with a transfer reunion for Kalvin Phillips, struggling to revive his career after his 2022 move to Manchester City for £45million.
Now at Ipswich Town, the midfielder is aiming to end his loan spell on a high despite the Tractor Boys being relegated with plenty of time to spare.
(Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Injuries have again scuppered Phillips’ chance of regaining the form that made him England’s best player in 2021, and Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has discussed the 29-year-old’s season and why it hasn’t gone to plan.
“The first thing to say is he’s been a good person in the group,” McKenna told EADT. “He had a fairly stable run of games at the start of the season while he was still working back to get to his best form. I feel that we had a period, Christmas and just afterward, where he was playing really well and really getting to a good level where he was really helping the team.
“The Tottenham game probably typified that. In the first 60 minutes of that game he was outstanding, definitely one of the best players in the pitch.
“In training and on match days he was getting to a good, consistent level. He got a big gash in his foot though that required a lot of stitches and some time off his feet.
“We managed to get him back in the squad against Bournemouth and Wolves, but he probably hasn’t been fully fit or had a really good training base behind him for several weeks. Now he’s got a little problem with his Achilles.
“He’s not going to be available this weekend and it’s unlikely we can get him on the pitch before the end of the season. It’s been frustrating for him and for us. Because a really fully fit and confident Kalvin would been a real addition to us. But, as I say, he’s been a really good person around the group.
“I’m sure there’ll be bits from the season, like all the other players, that he’ll take from. Hopefully he can have a good season next year.”
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McKenna has just told Leeds exactly why they should avoid Phillips
If a player like Phillips is unable to stay fit consistently, then it represents a big risk for Leeds looking at next season.
He would no doubt be a remarkable signing if he could find the same performance levels as he did under Marcelo Bielsa, but as McKenna says, he wouldn’t be playing for Ipswich if he could stay fit and play that well.
Therefore, if he’s struggling to make a consistent impact on Ipswich’s side, that have been woefully off the pace in the survival ‘battle’, then is he someone we’d want to help us stay up?