Leeds United are claimed to be looking into a £10million transfer reunion with Kalvin Phillips, but recent achilles surgery surely scuppers any talk of a return to Elland Road.
Leeds have a lot of improvements to make to their squad as they attempt to better the survival efforts of the last six promoted sides.
With the transfer window now open, it comes as no surprise to see one link becoming more prominent than most others.
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Leeds United ‘exploring’ deal to sign Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City for £10million
Kalvin Phillips transfer links have been rife all season for Leeds with Daniel Farke pushing to get the club back to the Premier League, while his future appears certain to be away from Manchester City.
(REUTERS/Chris Radburn)
His Ipswich Town loan concluded with relegation back to the EFL, and Man City insider The Real Tolmie’s Hairdoo claimed that the 49ers are considering a deal that could cost as little as £10million.
The England international of course left Leeds for £45million to the Etihad back in the summer of 2022, but has failed to make any sort of impact under Pep Guardiola amid fitness and injury struggles, sent out on loan twice in the past 18 months.
Kalvin Phillips spotted in protective boot at Kaiser Chiefs gig following achilles surgery
The Yorkshire Pirlo was back on home turf this weekend, though, part of the group of players past and present seen backstage at the Kaiser Chiefs’ Celebrating 20 years of Employment concert at Temple Newsam on Saturday evening.
Patrick Bamford took to the stage with a guitar in-hand to help play I Predict A Riot, while Phillips was watching on alongside Stuart Dallas, Josh Warrington, Simon Grayson, Luke Ayling, and Leeds’ team security Martin Sykes (via Grayson’s Instagram):
As shown here, Phillips is wearing a protective boot on his left foot while holding crutches too, after confirmed achilles surgery that is due to rule him out until August.
Leeds United can do better than Kalvin Phillips as he struggles for fitness
If someone were able to guarantee to Leeds that Phillips would return for £10million and be as good as he was under Marcelo Bielsa, then you’d snap their hand off to get that deal done.
That being said, there’s a clear reason why Man City would be willing to take such a loss on Phillips’ exit, and it’s because he’s a shadow of the player we saw bossing the midfield for Leeds and England every week.
Injuries have ruined him sadly and he was battling to get a consistent run of games all season under Kieran McKenna, unable to dislodge Sam Morsy or Jens Cajuste in the end, an indictment of his battle to stay fit.
Now, knowing that he’s going to be missing all of pre-season in recovery from surgery, it strongly suggests Leeds should not be paying out to sign Phillips as part of his recovery effort.