Chris Wilder has outlined why Kalvin Phillips would tick two transfer boxes for Sheffield United
Sheffield United want to try and re-sign Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City on loan this summer.
With the start of the summer transfer window now less than a fortnight away, Sheffield United are greasing their wheels in the hope of hitting the ground running.
Following an underwhelming 13th-placed finish in the Championship in 2025/26, United are determined to make progress next term by embedding themselves within the promotion shake-up. An expanded play-off system means the top eight will all be in with a shot at reaching the Premier League.
For that ambition to become a reality at Bramall Lane, though, United must make their mark in the transfer window. The shutters will officially come up on June 15, meaning it will not be long before moves start to happen.
United boss Chris Wilder has made no secret of his desire to freshen up his squad this summer, meaning all eyes are on him and the United hierarchy to see who they will bring to Bramall Lane ahead of the start of the new season in August.
United’s first-team squad has already been trimmed by ten players following the departures of six loanees and the exits of Ben Mee, Tom Davies, Jaïro Riedewald and Danny Ings at the end of their contracts. Other departures are expected as the summer unfolds.
While the departures of Mee, Davies and Ings came as no surprise to anyone, Riedewald’s departure stunned just about everyone. It was widely understood that United were set to, at the very least, trigger the one-year option in his contract to keep him for the 2026/27 season.
Instead, United have decided to move the former Crystal Palace man on in a bid to free up funds and space to try and bring Kalvin Phillips back to S2. The England midfielder spent the second half of the 2025/26 campaign on loan at Bramall Lane after arriving from Manchester City, but he was restricted to just three appearances because of a knee injury that required an operation.
Nevertheless, he impressed United’s coaching staff during his time at the club and Wilder is keen to sign him for a second time. There is no doubt that a fit Phillips would be an excellent addition for any Championship club.
Wilder has made no secret of his plans to add experience and players of the right character to the ranks this summer amid the number of young players that currently go towards making up his squad. The likes of Jack Clarke and Lewis Dobbin, who are both well-versed in the Championship, have made their way onto United’s radar, highlighting the direction in which they want their recruitment drive to go this summer.
But with experience and players with a winning mentality among the criteria Wilder is looking for in prospective additions this summer, Phillips ticks both boxes.
“We need to bring some experience in, to challenge,” Wilder said, speaking in April. “To bolster that part of the team up, the biggest box that needs to be ticked is personality and character.
“Character of a winning footballer. Just look at three of our back four, an average age of 23. We certainly need to add some experience into that.”
Speaking specifically about the deal that saw Phillips swap Manchester for Sheffield in February, Wilder explained: “Just to let people know, we’re not paying full wage recovery as people understand it. It’s a deal that Steve Bettis did, which was a brilliant deal for the football club.
“It covers us on so many aspects. And he passed the medical as well. So we’re not signing this player that’s injured before all that comes out.
“The deal that we’ve got is an outstanding deal. An outstanding deal and an outstanding character and a player.”
If United are to stand any chance of bringing Phillips back to S2, it will be via another loan deal, meaning they are once again likely to require City to contribute a certain percentage of the midfielder’s wages.
United will not be splashing the cash in the same way they did last summer amid the end of their parachute payments and the new financial regulations that govern Championship clubs, meaning Wilder, just as he so often has in the past, will have to be smart and savvy with his recruitment plans.
However, the prospect of bringing Phillips back to Bramall Lane is one Wilder is keen to pursue. Having stressed the importance of having experience and proven winners in his squad, the City man, who has won six major honours during his time at the Etihad Stadium, would fit the blueprint.