Leeds United are very unlikely to facilitate a return for Kalvin Phillips this summer, with the club holding a number of concerns over the midfielder.
The biggest stumbling block is wages, given his current pay packet at Manchester City is thought to be in excess of £150,000 a week. The highest contract the club has ever given out is around £80,000 a week.
The injury record of Phillips is also a concern. The England international was seen sporting a protective boot while attending a Kaiser Chiefs gig at Temple Newsam alongside Patrick Bamford over the weekend, having undergone Achilles surgery.
There are fears Phillips could miss the entirety of pre-season due to his operation which would hamper the chances of him securing a summer move - something his entourage seem keen on. He also missed eight games due to injury while on loan at Ipswich Town last season.
With three years remaining on his contract at Manchester City, the expectation from Leeds is that Phillips will only be loaned out. And with clubs only allowed to loan players from two UK rivals, as per transfer rules, Phillips is seen as a risky target.
The 29-year-old - who was sold by Leeds for around £45million in 2022, the second highest sale by the club - has started just 17 Premier League games over the past two seasons, which increases to just 19 across three campaigns.
United are expected to have a busy summer, with midfield set to be a target area of reinforcement. Chairman Paraag Marathe has vowed to maximise spending limits, with Leeds holding a three-year-loss cap of just £61million due to their two years in the EFL.
Sunderland have the same limit, while Burnley’s is higher at £83m due to having just one season in the Championship. The other 17 teams have a £105m threshold.
United might look to delve into the loan and free agent markets this summer as a result, and meanwhile have contract negotiations to sort out. Sam Byram and Junior Firpo remain in talks with no breakthrough yet reached while James Debayo has not yet signed the new terms offered to him.