It's been a quiet month as far as Leeds United are concerned, although with Daniel Farke's side still in a precarious position in the Premier League, don't rule out further business before the window slams shut.
The loan capture of Brighton and Hove Albion's Facundo Buonanotte hasn't exactly moved the needle, with the Argentine fresh off the back of a forgettable temporary stint at Chelsea.
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Farke, undoubtedly, has done fine work to steer the Elland Road side away from danger, but no one in Yorkshire should be resting on their laurels, not least with West Ham United having begun to find momentum.
With time running out until the deadline, it would be wise to consider some ready-made, Premier League-proven additions who can slot in nicely, with there still a real need for top-flight experience among Farke's current ranks.
Encouragingly, if recent reports are to be believed, such a signing could still be on the cards.
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Despite having lodged a bid of around £30m for Jorgen Strand Larsen in recent weeks, it doesn't appear that Leeds will be splashing the cash this month, with Buonanotte's loan capture an obvious case in point.
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If there are to be any late fireworks then, it is likely to be in pursuit of something of a bargain move, with the 49ers seemingly looking ahead to more marquee end of season deals instead, amid reported interest in Real Madrid's Endrick.
Those enquiries regarding the teenage Brazilian point to an exciting future next season, provided Leeds can stay up, although in the here and now, it is experience that this side is in need of.
Who better to turn to then than academy graduate, Kalvin Phillips, with Caught Offside reporting that Leeds are among the clubs who are still interested in rescuing the 30-year-old from his Manchester City hell.
Exiled at the Etihad, the Englishman is up for grabs, with the report outlining that City would be willing to negotiate a deal for a fee in the region of £10m.
That figure could drop even lower if it does lead to late permanent departure, albeit with the only stumbling block said to be Phillips' reported £150k-£160k-per-week salary.
Why Phillips could be the new captain at Leeds
A return to Elland Road would no doubt be an emotional one for Phillips, with the midfielder enduring such a miserable time of things, following his £45m move back in 2022.
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Since then, the former Euro 2020 star has made just 32 appearances in all competitions under Pep Guardiola's watch, starting only two Premier League games in all.
Shipped out on loan to West Ham United and Ipswich Town in recent seasons, Phillips is again out in the cold in Manchester, with just a solitary first-team appearance to his name in 2025/26.
kalvin-phillips-leeds-graphic
The former Leeds hero might not be blameless for his long-standing woes, but the treatment of him right from the off has been bizarre, affording him little chance to showcase the level of talent that was seen in his 234 games back in Yorkshire.
Indeed, Phillips was the heartbeat of Marcelo Bielsa's side both in the Championship and top-flight, while notably described as the "best modern midfielder" in 2021 by former England boss, Fabio Capello.
A deep-lying orchestrator, the 'Yorkshire Pirlo' was a master at winning back possession and keeping things ticking, with the 2020/21 season seeing him average 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game, while boasting an 85% pass accuracy.
With five 'big chances' created too, he really was the man pulling the strings in front of the back four, ensuring he could again assume that role under Farke's watch.
Phillips - 2020/21 PL stats
Stat (per 90)
Long balls completed
Chances created
Tackles
Blocks
Ball recoveries
Stats from FBref
That could well see Phillips take over Ampadu's role as Leeds' midfield talisman, with the Wales international averaging 'just' 3.7 tackles and interceptions this season, while creating just a single 'big chance'.
Of course, Ampadu has had "such a good season", as remarked by The Athletic's Adam Crafton, but Phillips' status and standing at Elland Road could supersede that, while the Englishman's top-level experience could also see him emerge as a worthy recipient of the captain's armband.
Kalvin Phillips post-Leeds (timeless)
Phillips has been there and done it in a Leeds shirt, enjoying a remarkable rise from the academy ranks to becoming a first-team sensation, with it likely to be a fitting move to hand him the captaincy if a late deal can be agreed.
Having been sidelined for so long at City, he needs some Leeds love to get back to his brilliant best again, with those at Elland Road fully aware of the heights he is capable of.
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