Kalvin Phillips opens up on Sheffield United frustration amid return hopes, Leeds United message
Chris Wilder remains determined to bring the Manchester City midfielder back to Sheffield United this summer, with growing belief that a second loan spell can be agreed if the financial pieces fall into place
Key officials at Sheffield United are becoming increasingly confident that Kalvin Phillips will return to Bramall Lane next season, in another beneficial loan move from Manchester City. The former England international joined the Blades in January.
The move ended in frustrating fashion, after Phillips was sent off in the derby win over Wednesday and picked up a knee issue in the same game. It forced him to go under the knife for a clean-up operation and although there was hope that he would return before the end of the season, that didn’t materialise.
That though has not tempered boss Chris Wilder’s desire to bring Phillips back next season, although any deal would again need a heavy subsidy from City in terms of Phillips’ huge wages.
That was a key part of United’s U-turn over Jairo Riedewald, with the midfielder released despite all signs pointing to an extension for one of United’s most influential performers last season. If United can get Phillips firing again, there is a belief that his ceiling is higher than Riedewald’s.
But that also remains a big if. The recent years of Phillips’ careers have been dogged by periods on the sidelines and he has been stuck in a catch-22 situation of a lack of consistent games causing a lack of consistent fitness, which in turns leads to a lack of consistent games. And so on and so on.
But the hope is that a new season can bring a change of fortunes. Speaking to our sister ‘paper, the Yorkshire Evening Post, recently, Phillips said of his time at Bramall Lane: "It was all right, all two games of it.
“I suffered an injury which kept me out for the rest of the season. And that's been the problem for me the last three years of not playing regularly. It's made me acquire more injuries and stuff like that. So I'm looking forward to hopefully having a good season, actually."
Coming back to Bramall Lane also allowed Phillips to return to his native Yorkshire after a move to City that has not worked out for any party involved. He still has two years left on his deal at the Etihad, making a loan deal the most likely outcome.
Speaking at an event back at his old stomping ground of Elland Road, the former Leeds United man said: "Even though I'm not here now I feel the same feelings and connections as you Leeds fans do," he said.
"When I was there obviously it was really good. We was finished the highest we had finished in the league for a long while, and I think things in football change and ownerships change, and for the ownership to come in and do what they've done it's amazing to see, and I think there's only been progression."