Leeds consider move as Man City midfielder set for talks over future | OneFootball

Leeds Backed to Re-Sign Man City Midfielder Ahead of Premier League Return

Promotion close, planning begins

There is a moment in the rhythm of a football club where anticipation meets reality. For Leeds United, that moment is now. Perched on the brink of Premier League promotion, they’re not just looking up—they’re looking ahead. According to Football Insider, one name is already echoing around Elland Road: Kalvin Phillips.

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Once the beating heart of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds midfield, Phillips left Leeds in 2022 in a £42 million move to Manchester City. It was supposed to be the step up, the final proof of a player forged in Championship grit and Premier League ambition. But it hasn’t worked. A loan spell at Ipswich Town, a peripheral role, an Achilles injury, and now an uncertain future.

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“Phillips is ‘interested’ in a return to Leeds this summer,” Football Insider reports. The club, it adds, is “keeping tabs” on his situation, ready to act if promotion is secured.

Financial hurdles and fading form

There are complications, as ever. Phillips is reportedly on £150,000 per week—a figure that belongs in another financial bracket entirely for Leeds. Any return would demand compromise. “He’d likely have to agree to a pay cut to return to the Yorkshire club,” the report states.

Then there’s the question of form. Injuries and a lack of minutes have dulled his sharpness. “He hasn’t featured in [Ipswich’s] last three Premier League games and is currently sidelined,” Football Insider adds. Yet, the pedigree remains. At his best, Phillips orchestrates, disrupts, and dictates. Leeds fans haven’t forgotten.

Photo: IMAGO

Dialogue set with City

Phillips is still under contract at the Etihad until June 2028, but according to the same report, “it is believed he has no future at the Etihad Stadium.” Discussions between the midfielder and Manchester City are planned for the off-season. A loan deal or a heavily reduced fee seems the only viable outcome.

As journalist Graeme Bailey put it: “I firmly believe Phillips will return to Leeds.” He added, “A loan deal would be appealing to them and fit in with their budget – whether that was Premier League or Championship.”

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For a Leeds United fan, this is everything. It’s more than just a transfer rumour—it’s a homecoming in the making. The thought of Kalvin Phillips pulling the strings at Elland Road again brings with it a surge of optimism that goes beyond simple nostalgia.

Yes, there are risks. The injuries. The wages. The decline in minutes. But sometimes, the fit matters more than the form. Phillips knows this club. He knows the people. He knows the demands of the shirt. And the fans know him—how he anchored that title-winning midfield in 2019/20, how he matured into an England regular off the back of his performances in a white shirt.

With Premier League football looming, Leeds will need experience, leadership, and emotional investment. Phillips offers all three. If a loan deal can be structured and the finances aligned, this is the sort of move that could unify the fanbase, stabilise the dressing room, and give Leeds a foundation in midfield.