Sheffield United update sparks Kalvin Phillips return talk – ‘game changer’ backed to sign | OneFootball

FLW’s Sheffield United fan pundit has commented on the Blades’ pursuit of Kalvin Phillips after releasing Jairo Riedewald.

Sheffield United will be preparing plans ahead of the 2026-27 Championship campaign as they look to put a rather dismal previous one behind them.

The Blades started off the 2025-26 term in worrying fashion by occupying the foot of the table under former Hull City boss Ruben Selles, with Chris Wilder returning to the club to help push them away from the relegation mire.

While they achieved that, the Yorkshire outfit failed to kick on any further under his guidance, still showing worrying inconsistencies, which resulted in the club securing a mid-table position in 13th.

Meanwhile, the club will find it tougher to get back to the top end of the Championship standings as they prepare for a rebuild this summer due to the loss of parachute payments by the Premier League.

In preparation to put their squad together, the Yorkshire outfit confirmed their released and retained list this week, confirming Tom Davies, Danny Ings and Ben Mee would all be departing the Steel City.

But a fourth and surprise exit on the list was Jairo Riedewald, who arrived last October and had a major impact on the Blades team under Wilder.

Blades supporters are bound to be perplexed as the club were believed to have held the option of extending the 29-year-old’s contract by an extra 12 months.

Now a fresh report by The Star has revealed that Riedewald has been shown the exit door so the Blades can facilitate a return for Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

The 30-year-old moved to Bramall Lane during the January transfer window last season on loan but played just three times for the club, as a red card against bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday and then injury failed to see him make much of an impact.

But Wilder still appears keen to get the midfielder back on his books, with the ex-England international seemingly surplus to requirements at Manchester City, despite Pep Guardiola being reported to be departing the Etihad Stadium at the end of this term.

With this in mind, FLW’s Sheffield United fan pundit has commented on this development involving Riedewald and Phillips, assessing whether Wilder is making the correct decision.

Sheffield United urged to sign ‘game changer’ Kalvin Phillips this summer

Speaking to Football League World, Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy (AKA Blades Ramble) admits he isn’t surprised by Chris Wilder’s decision to pursue Kalvin Phillips at the expense of Jairo Riedewald, believing the midfielder can be a ‘game changer’ in the second tier, but it hinges on whether the Blades can get him back to the levels he produced at Elland Road with Leeds United.

Jimmy told FLW: “First thoughts are I’m not surprised.

“We know Chris Wilder likes a long-term target, he’s comfortable with players that he’s worked with previously and has tracked for a long time.

“He’s talked a lot about characters and leaders, and when previously talking about Kalvin Phillips, he mentioned his name in that in terms of how he handled himself, despite even being out through injury that he was a big part of the dressing room, so in all honesty, I’m not surprised that his name has been linked with a return.

“It would have to be a favourable deal for United, it would have to be favourable, certainly in terms of finances, and is that deal going to even be on the table now that Pep (Guardiola) might be going and (Enzo) Maresca coming in?

“Is he the type of midfielder that we need? Well, he’s different to what we’ve got, and I still maintain that a fit and firing Kalvin Phillips is a game changer at Championship level, it’s just whether we can get him back to those peak levels that we’ve seen before in a Leeds shirt and is it in line with the robust team selection or squad that we’re going for? I’m not sure, but time will tell.”

Kalvin Phillips, Jairo Riedewald swap is a risk for Sheffield United to take

From the outside looking in, it seems like Sheffield United are taking an almighty gamble by swapping Jairo Riedewald for Kalvin Phillips.

While there’s no doubt Phillips is the more accomplished player out of the two, his ill-discipline and lack of fitness during his loan spell for the second half of last season is a big concern, with the Blades potentially spending big money on wages for a player not cut out for the rough and tumble of the Championship.

Meanwhile, Riedewald proved to be such a shrewd signing for Sheffield United, becoming a crucial figure to help turn the tide under Chris Wilder after such a poor start, so the Blades are bound to be left weaker in his absence, even if Phillips walks back through the building.

Wilder may well have the last laugh with this decision come the end of the 2026-27 season, but it seems the Yorkshire outfit are making a big mistake by letting the Dutchman go, who was fit and making a noticeable difference in the heart of midfield.