There’s a lot of talk about Kalvin Phillips leaving Man City this summer, and a lot of talk about him returning to Leeds United following their promotion to the Premier League.
Kalvin Phillips is a shell of the player who starred for Leeds United in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa.
His £45million move from Elland Road to the Etihad in 2022 hasn’t worked out as hoped and now the 29-year-old is at another crossroads in his career, following another rather mixed loan spell away from Man City.
Leeds United have been tipped to re-sign Phillips this summer after Daniel Farke guided the Whites to the Championship title at the second time of trying.
And it’s also been revealed that Phillips is open to a return to Leeds United this summer, with all signs pointing towards Pep Guardiola wanting to get the Englishman off his books on a permanent basis this time round.
Last month, Guardiola threatened to leave Man City if the club doesn’t trim the squad size this summer, meaning outcasts like Phillips are surely bound to leave.
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Shea Charles could be the answer for Leeds United, not Kalvin Phillips
No doubt, the centre of midfield is one area that Farke desperately needs to strengthen this summer. He needs a player in the midfield who can provide both physicality and technical ability, and a range of passing, which is the type of player Phillips is. But Farke now seems to have turned his attentions towards Shea Charles at Southampton.
Recent reports have revealed that Leeds United take an interest in Charles who shone on loan at Sheffield Wednesday during the 2024/25 Championship season, winning the club’s Player of the Season award after featuring 43 times in the league, scoring once and assisting five more.
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Charles’ parent club Southampton have been relegated back to the Championship after one season in the top flight. They look like they could now be set for an overhaul to the playing squad with a cash injection wanted behind the scenes, and Charles could be one asset they decide to cash in on if the price is right.
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Shea Charles’ 24/25 stats vs Kalvin Phillips at Leeds United in 19/20
Southampton signed Charles, 21, from Man City back in 2023, paying an initial fee of £10.5million for the Northern Ireland international. But expect the Saints to want much more than that number to part ways with Charles this summer, especially seeing how much they’re valuing some of their other players at.
Leeds United transfer target Mateus Fernandes is supposedly valued at way more than £30million behind the scenes at St Mary’s, which could make Charles a £20million player at the very least.
Stat (Champ) Charles in 24/25 Phillips in 19/20
Scoring freq. 3638 1627 mins
Touches-per-game 61.1 75.4
Big chances created 5 6
Key passes PG 1.3 1.8
Passes PG 34.5 44.9 (82%)
Passes in own half PG 17.6 26.4
Passes in opp. half PG 18.2 20.3
Long balls PG 1.4 5.3
Interceptions PG 1.4 1.4
Tackles PG 2.5 2.6
Clearances PG 1.7 1.3
As it goes, though, Phillips’ last 2019/20 season in the Championship saw him outscore Charles in almost every relevant department. Bear in mind though that Charles is a much less experienced and younger player, and he’d be a much more cost-friendly alternative to Phillips right now.
Not to mention the fact that Phillips is a player clearly low on form and likely on confidence, too, so for Farke, Charles might be the better option in both the short-term and the long-term in the midfield.