Fabrizio Romano has verified Kalvin Phillips’ return to Manchester City from West Ham, and the Citizens are willing to allow the struggling midfielder to return to Leeds United.
Phillips has had a really difficult spell in his career after working his way to the top with the Whites. Indeed, after joining Manchester City in 2022, he only appeared in 16 Premier League games in a season and a half.
The half-season belongs to City allowing him to leave on loan for West Ham since he was providing nothing to Pep Guardiola’s squad, having played only four league games prior to his departure.
However, Phillips’ stint could be worse than simply sitting on the sidelines for City.
Indeed, the midfielder was at fault for a goal on his Hammers debut and was therefore benched, making only two league appearances after that.
Phillips has been on the bench four times in the league without making an appearance for West Ham, failing to demonstrate that he is worth a move to a respectable side if he leaves City.
It’s a significant departure from his time at Leeds, where the midfielder appeared 234 times in the Championship and Premier League, including two top-flight seasons for his boyhood club after helping them return there, as well as breaking into the England squad and becoming a fixture in that side.
A return to Elland Road has been discussed, and given Phillips’ refusal to transfer to West Ham, it appears that is the case.
Romano confirms Manchester City are open to allowing Leeds to return.
Multiple sources have claimed that the Hammers are not interested in signing him on a permanent basis, which comes as no surprise given his terrible performance at the London club.
Romano has now confirmed Phillips’ return to City in the summer, reporting that the Englishman ‘will undoubtedly leave’ West Ham in a plan agreed upon weeks ago.
However, City could enable the struggling midfielder to return to the Whites. Indeed, Romano indicated explicitly that City is ‘open to solutions, including Leeds interest’.
For that to happen, the Whites appear to need to return to the Premier League. While Phillips has struggled, he has not been relegated to the Championship, as he had hoped with West Ham.
Beyond that, City and Leeds would need to reach an agreement on the deal.
Given Phillips’ expected hefty salary at the Etihad, the Whites may prefer to bring him in on loan first, as they are unsure what they will gain from him, making a full deal riskier.
However, if he impresses, Leeds will almost certainly want to bring him back full-time.
There appears to be no better place for Phillips to get back on track than the club that mentored him as he rose through the ranks and helped him become an England international.
