Ipswich Town urged to avoid deal for Man City's Kalvin Phillips for one clear reason | OneFootball

Ipswich need more bodies in midfield. FLW's Ipswich fan pundit doesn't see Phillips as the right option, though.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Ipswich Town are on the hunt for another central midfielder in the remaining days of the transfer window.

Kieran McKenna's selection of players to fill this spot in the heart of his team aren't exactly plentiful. The recent return of Jens Cajuste on another loan deal from his parent club Napoli, and the prior addition of Azor Matusiwa, have eased the worries ever so slightly. The feeling remains, though, that extra cover is needed.

They have had a season-long loan offer for Newcastle United teenager Lewis Miley turned down by the Magpies, but other options remain available to them, including AFC Bournemouth's Philip Billing. According to TEAMtalk, the Cherries are happy to let him leave the Vitality Stadium once again this summer.

Ipswich told to stay away from second Kalvin Phillips move

Last season, the Tractor Boys had Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City. The former £45 million player was, again, hampered by injuries and only managed to make 19 appearances for the club.

Despite showing some glimpses of the quality he displayed while with Leeds United, Football League World's Ipswich fan pundit, Adam Wilkin, has said that taking the 29-year-old back would be too much of a risk given the current fitness concerns that surround the likes of Cajuste.

"I like Phillips and I think he did pretty well for us once he got up to speed last season. I wouldn't be going back in for him though because of his injury issues," Wilkin stated.

"I think, as a midfield unit, you can only carry one player who has fitness issues and we know that Jens Cajuste was managing a knee issue throughout last season and isn't fully up to speed this season.

"If both him and Phillips had been fit throughout the entirety of last season, I feel like we'd have had a much better chance of staying in the Premier League.

"But because we had to chop and change it so much with Sam Morsy and Jack Taylor having to play games, I wouldn't want to go back in for both Phillips and Cajuste again in case they both end up injured and you get left short in midfield again. So not for me.

"I hope he does get a move because I really really liked him as a player and a character, but I don't think a Portman Road return will be right for him at this point in time."

Ipswich should steer clear of Kalvin Phillips this summer

With the amount of games that Ipswich will have to play this season, and the level that McKenna will expect his players to maintain throughout that time, they can't afford to have too many passengers lurking around the doctor's office for much of the campaign. Unfortunately, with Phillips, that risk will always be there.

In the two loan moves he has made since leaving Elland Road in 2022, and in the brief action he has had in his three-year spell with Man City, the former England international hasn't been able to find the form or consistency that made him such a coveted player.

Football, especially in the Championship, is a ruthless business. Ipswich, in their push to return to the Premier League, would be ill-advised in any return move for Phillips because of the fitness risk he brings with him and the club's need for reliability in this position.