Sydie Peck comments underline why Sheffield United are targeting Kalvin Phillips return
Sheffield United are keen to explore the possibility of signing Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips for a second time this summer.
The announcement of Sheffield United’s retained list earlier this month was greeted with a collective gasp.
News that Jaïro Riedewald’s contract would not be extended beyond the end of this season surprised supporters and journalists alike. It was widely understood he would be staying at Bramall Lane for another season at the very least after such an impressive impact after his arrival last October.
United had the option to trigger a one-year extension, an option everyone expected to be taken up. Instead, he will officially leave S2 when his contract expires at the end of June.
The reason behind United’s decision to let Riedewald go is because manager Chris Wilder wants to free up funds and space in the squad to try and re-sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips. The 30-year-old spent the second half of this season on loan at Bramall Lane from the Etihad Stadium, arriving on transfer deadline day in February.
Despite being limited to just three appearances during his time with the Blades through injury, Wilder is keen to sign him for a second time. The Star understands Pep Guardiola’s exit from City and the expected appointment of Enzo Maresca is unlikely to impact United’s pursuit of the midfield enforcer.
Despite barely featuring, Phillips impressed United’s coaching staff and his teammates alike during his time in S2. His presence was understood to have rubbed off on United’s youngsters such as Sydie Peck and Oliver Arblaster.
Joining United at the very start of February, Phillips joined a midfield pool that already featured Joe Rothwell, who was signed on the same day, Djibril Soumaré, Riedewald, Peck and Arblaster. It was a well-stocked area of the team, featuring a blend of promising youth and experience.
Four months on and Peck, Arblaster and Rothwell are the only three senior midfielders on United’s books heading into next season. Wilder will demand competition for places, making another midfield addition this summer both necessary and logical.
Should Phillips make a return to S2, United will be hoping he can stay fit this time around. If they get a consistent tune out of a fit Phillips, they will have one of the best midfielders in the Championship at their disposal.
His presence would also increase the level of competition for a starting berth, with the likes of Peck and Arblaster, who will start next season aged 21 and 22 respectively, no doubt mindful the City midfielder would be an automatic starter in Wilder’s first-choice starting XI.
Nevertheless, Peck has already highlighted the importance of having competition for places, admitting earlier this year he can learn from playing alongside more experienced figures.
“Yes, that is football and that is my mindset,” Peck, addressing the need for competition back in February, told United’s YouTube channel. “That is my mindset.
“I am happy that is my mindset. But like I have said, whether it’s me in midfield, whether it’s not me, whoever’s alongside me, it’s about getting the job done, and hopefully we can keep doing that.
“There are experienced midfield lads who have done it at the top level. Then there is me that is sort of right at the start of their career. I’m young. They do help me, I do learn. I like to think that I help them sometimes.”
With Wilder keen to add more experience to United’s ranks this summer, a player of Phillips’ calibre would drive standards and keep internal competition high in the quest for a starting berth.
Only time will tell if United are successful in their quest to re-sign the former Leeds United man, who moved to City back in 2022, but if they are, it is a move that will likely receive Peck’s seal of approval.