Status of Sheffield United's move to sign Kalvin Phillips from Man City revealed | OneFootball

Sheffield United are trying to reach an agreement with Man City as they look to bring Kalvin Phillips back to the club after his loan spell.

Chris Wilder is expected to oversee major changes to the Sheffield United squad this summer as they look to push for a play-off place next season.

The boyhood Blades fan did well to steer the club away from relegation trouble after returning to Bramall Lane for a third time in the previous campaign.

However, Sheffield United’s form in 2026 was very inconsistent, which frustrated Wilder, who promised to reshape the squad in the upcoming window.

Sheffield United still trying to bring Kalvin Phillips back to Bramall Lane

Kalvin Phillips was part of Sheffield United’s group in that period, but it’s fair to say that he didn’t get much of a chance to show his quality in a red-and-white shirt.

The midfielder, who is frozen out at parent club Man City, only played three times for the Blades after his loan move, with a red card in the Steel City derby, and an injury, restricting his time on the pitch.

Despite that, Wilder was full of praise for Phillips’ attitude around the club on a daily basis, and he made it clear that he would look to bring him back to Yorkshire if possible.

And, in a fresh development, the Daily Mail has confirmed that Sheffield United are continuing to ‘work’ on a deal, as they look to reach an agreement with Man City.

With Phillips’ contract set to run until 2028, the Blades would need City to subsidise a significant chunk of his wages to have any chance of making that happen, which is how the agreement was finalised in January.

Even with Pep Guardiola leaving Man City, it’s highly unlikely that Phillips’ situation will change under Enzo Maresca, so a departure does feel inevitable for the 30-year-old.

Kalvin Phillips will feel like he has unfinished business at Sheffield United

This makes sense for Sheffield United and Phillips, because the midfielder didn’t get a proper chance to show what he could do for Wilder last season.

There was a lot of excitement at the move when it happened, but the injury meant it was a move that just didn’t work out.

Nevertheless, Wilder’s comments show just how much he values Phillips’ character, and a key reason for their success under the manager in the past has been recruiting not only good players, but individuals who buy into what the club is about and create a spirit in the dressing room.

Clearly, Wilder thinks Phillips can be a big influence on and off the pitch, and the player appeared to enjoy being at Sheffield United.

Of course, any move is dependent on reaching a financial agreement with City, but they will know that there’s not going to be a huge market for the player. So, this update suggests things are going on in the background, and it would suit all parties if the move happens.

In an ideal world, it would be sorted quickly, which would then allow Phillips to join Wilder’s squad for a full pre-season, and then he will hope to hit the ground running as he tries to get back to the sort of form he showed during his Leeds days.