Sheffield United in advanced loan negotiations for want-away Manchester City midfielder | OneFootball

Sheffield United are in advanced talks with Manchester City over a fresh loan deal for midfielder Kalvin Phillips, as per a new report.

Phillips has endured a difficult period since his £45 million move to the Etihad Stadium from Leeds United in the summer of 2022, making just a handful of appearances for the club across three seasons as injuries and a lack of form limited his involvement considerably under Pep Guardiola.

The 30-year-old spent the second half of the recent season at Bramall Lane and despite spending much of his time in Sheffield on the sidelines, Phillips is understood to have impressed enough for the Championship side to explore the possibility of bringing him back to south Yorkshire for another campaign.

Report: Advanced talks underway between clubs

According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Sheffield United are in advanced talks with Manchester City over securing another loan deal for Phillips ahead of the 2025-26 season.

The report suggests discussions between the two clubs have progressed to an advanced stage, with a second temporary arrangement considered the most straightforward outcome for all parties given Phillips’s lack of a clear pathway to regular first-team football at the Etihad Stadium.

City director of football Hugo Viana is understood to be focused on a significant rebuild of the squad around incoming manager Enzo Maresca – and a further loan exit for Phillips would free up both wages and a squad place as the club navigates one of its most active transfer windows in recent memory.

What next for Phillips at Manchester City?

Phillips’s City career has never recovered the momentum that made him one of England’s most sought-after midfielders during his time at Leeds United – and his long-term future at the Etihad Stadium remains uncertain heading into the final year of his contract.

A second loan spell at Sheffield United would offer the 30-year-old consistent Championship football and the opportunity to rebuild his confidence and sharpness ahead of what is likely to be a defining period for his career – whether that ultimately concludes with a permanent departure from City or an unlikely return to contention under Maresca.

Whether the advanced talks reported translate into a formal agreement in the coming days remains to be seen – but the direction of travel for both club and player, who is under contract at the Etihad Stadium till the summer of 2028 – appears clear.