The pay cut Kalvin Phillps may need to take to leave Man City for Sheffield United permanently | OneFootball

Kalvin Phillips is keen on returning to Sheffield United next season, but he would need to agree to a huge pay cut to leave Man City permanently.

Sheffield United are set for a very busy summer as Chris Wilder prepares to reshape the squad ahead of what he hopes will be a promotion push next season.

The boyhood fan, who returned to Bramall Lane for a third time earlier this season, has made no secret of the fact an overhaul will take place, with the current squad fighting for their futures.

There are a lot of unknowns going into the window, as several members of the Blades squad are out of contract, others are on loan, and another year outside the top flight means some sales will be necessary.

Kalvin Phillips is open to returning to Sheffield United next season

One of the current Sheffield United players facing an uncertain future is Kalvin Phillips, with the midfielder having joined on loan from Man City in January.

That move hasn’t really gone to plan, as Phillips has played limited games for the club, including picking up a red card, which was the derby win over Sheffield Wednesday, where he picked up an injury as well.

Whilst it’s hoped he will add to those minutes before the season finishes, Phillips is due to return to Man City as it stands, even if the Sheffield Star has claimed he wants to come back to the Steel City.

Whether that’s possible remains to be seen, as Phillips is under contract with the Premier League side until the summer of 2028, and they are paying a significant chunk of his wages at the moment.

A permanent move for Kalvin Phillips looks unrealistic for Sheffield United

If Phillips is to return to Bramall Lane, another loan move seems the only realistic way, as his wages are far too much for the Yorkshire outfit.

We must stress that these figures are estimates, but Capology claim Phillips earns £150,000 a week with Man City, with the Blades paying £45,000 a week during his time on loan.

Interestingly, Capology’s estimate makes Phillips the highest paid player at Sheffield United right now, with Japhet Tanganga next in line on £35,000 a week, whilst the bulk of the group are believed to be paid between £25,000 to £30,000 a week.

Clearly, they could get nowhere near Phillips’ wage with City, and with the midfielder having two years to go on his deal, it seems likely he will stick it out.

So, Sheffield United are going to be waiting for Man City to decide what to do, but it seems highly likely that he will leave again.

With the player not keen on moving abroad, and his form unlikely to attract Premier League attention, the Blades could be in pole position to bring Phillips back if they’re patient - and he is as keen to return, as suggested.

Once more, they would need to agree to pay a percentage of his wages, and it will be intriguing to see how far they can make that stretch. It is reported that Sheffield United are expected to ‘tighten their belts’ as they prepare to operate without parachute payments, so they may not be able to pay what they currently do.

Either way, it seems plenty of negotiations will take place with City, but the reality is that they have a player who they don’t want, but also one that is unlikely to leave due to his lucrative contract.

Therefore, a deal is there to be done, and it would be no major surprise if Phillips started next season at Bramall Lane. If City do insist on a permanent sale, it’s only feasible if the ex-England international agreed to a massive pay cut, so another loan could be the ideal solution for all parties.