Chris Wilder reveals issue Sheffield United face in signing Kalvin Phillips again | OneFootball

Chris Wilder has raised a potential issue that Sheffield United may face in their efforts to sign Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City permanently

Sheffield United turned heads on the winter window's transfer deadline day, which saw Chris Wilder return Kalvin Phillips to the Championship by landing the midfielder on loan from Manchester City for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.

Phillips, who was twice loaned out by Man City to West Ham and Ipswich Town, had not graced the Championship since helping boyhood club Leeds United to the second-tier title under Marcelo Bielsa all the way back in the 2019/20 season, with his arrival at Bramall Lane dubbed as a potential coup for the Blades.

Indeed, in the summer of 2022, Phillips had commanded a £45 million fee when Pep Guardiola prised him away from Elland Road, and the midfielder went on to star for the Whites in the Premier League and at international level with England.

The 31-cap England international has not featured for the Three Lions in more than two years, though, and has relished the opportunity to play regular football with Wilder's side after finding himself perennially out of favour under Guardiola.

Phillips made just three appearances for the Blades before picking up an injury and a subsequent dismissal in United's 2-1 Steel City derby victory over rivals Sheffield Wednesday in February, with the loan man since undertaking a small-scale knee operation to fix the issue.

He's now set to return to action soon, and in recent days, talk has arisen regarding a permanent move to the Championship outfit once the summer rolls around. Phillips himself is reportedly open to making his stay at the Lane a full-time one, and Wilder's own stance has now emerged - along with a potential transfer obstacle highlighted by the Blades boss.

Kalvin Phillips, Sheffield United transfer issue raised by Chris Wilder

The aforementioned report had detailed that Sheffield United will be looking to explore the terms of a permanent switch as Phillips enters the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

Now, for the first time, Wilder has discussed the possibility, and while it's a deal he's very much intent on trying to complete, the 58-year-old did highlight an issue that the Blades may face in such pursuits when quizzed on the potential re-signing of Phillips ahead of his side's clash at home to Hull City tomorrow afternoon.

It's Wilder's own view that United could be set to battle stiff competition, as he claimed that the 30-year-old may be in-demand in the coming months.

After being asked about the Blades' interest in bringing Phillips back to the club, Wilder explained to The Star: "Definitely. He'll have a lot of people still after him. It was a fabulous move that Steve Bettis put together, with Man City, from our point of view.

“It's (Phillips' salary) nowhere near what people think it is, and run away in the wildest dreams. Obviously that's their lack of knowledge on the situation.

"We brought a really good pro in. Obviously, he was unfortunately unlucky with his injury. And he was, because he passed the medical. And he had a medical, before any of that noise comes out. And it was a tough medical as well, like they all are.

"He's not played as much as he wanted to play but he’s been in around the place. I've spoken to him and I just basically said to him, as basic as this: ‘If we are an option, we'd love to be an option. And one that is there for you. Your agent and your parent club.’

"He certainly ticks the boxes, in terms of personality and characteristics. The character that we're after on the pitch. As well as off of it. So there's no pressure."

Sheffield United are well-placed to land fresh Kalvin Phillips, Man City transfer

It's no surprise that Wilder has warned of the possibility that Sheffield United will face competition in their efforts to complete a permanent agreement for Phillips, whose pedigree and likely availability will appeal to a host of competitive second-tier rivals.

United, however, have offered Phillips a platform to return to consistent club football, which remains in place despite his injury-enforced absence in recent weeks, and the fact that Wilder has lauded the way in which the Man City exile has integrated himself into the day-to-day culture and going-ons at the Lane speaks volumes of how he may just feel about signing for a second time.

It's clearly an option which appeals to Phillips, whose own position on the matter is known and evident, and the geographical element of returning to familiar surroundings in Yorkshire is another factor that will come under consideration.

So, Wilder's hardly speaking out of turn to highlight the threat of competition elsewhere, but you would still expect the Blades to rank highly in Phillips' thinking as he begins to weigh up the options on the table and it would hardly be a shock to see him back in red-and-white colours this coming summer.