"inevitable" - Future Leeds United return for Kalvin Phillips predicted | OneFootball

The midfielder joined Manchester City in July 2022 for an initial £42m.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Kalvin Phillips has struggled greatly since leaving Leeds United in the summer of 2022, joining Manchester City ahead of their treble winning season.

The midfielder made the switch for an initial £42m, a fee that could have risen to £45m through add-ons, but a lack of game-time and poor performances when given the opportunity to impress Pep Guardiola has left him languishing at the bottom of the pecking order.

He was sent out on loan to West Ham United at the end of last season in a bid to get him playing more regularly, however, it was a move that did not work, and he struggled to make an impact at the London Stadium.

Now 28, Phillips joined Ipswich Town at the start of the season for the entirety of the 2024/25 campaign. He is playing more regularly at Portman Road in the Premier League, nevertheless, the defensive midfielder has never truly recaptured the same form that he had while at Leeds.

Leeds told to hold off any potential move for Phillips for now

The local hero played his football at Elland Road, and he has not yet hit the same levels that he did for the Whites during his 234 appearances for the club.

Supporters did not want to see the midfielder leave two summers ago, especially with the team once again about to battle for Premier League survival, but a move to somewhere like Manchester City was too much to down.

Football League World has asked their Leeds Fan Pundit, Kris Smith, if he would like to see the Whites bring the 28-year-old back to Yorkshire in the future.

"I don't expect Phillips back at Leeds anytime soon because we're not in the top flight right now," he started. "We're not really a good prospect for him and I don't really think that it would be a good signing for us in terms of the finances that would be involved.

"That said, further down the line, when Phillips is looking to see out his career, I do think that coming back to Leeds is inevitable. He loves it here. The fans love him, and it would seem like a great way for him to see out his career.

"He's not found much joy since leaving us for Manchester City, and I didn't blame him at the time for leaving, but it's not worked out for him, and you would imagine that he is probably yearning for a return to the place where he would be that favourite again."

Kris continued: "I don't think Leeds will be in any sort of rush to sign him anytime soon though, just because he looks like he's physically deteriorating as a defensive midfielder. Since he left us, he's not looked nearly the same sort of monster midfielder that he was under Bielsa.

"He is probably on huge wages at the moment, and I don't see how that would be a signing that makes sense for us."

Phillips has enjoyed consistent football at Ipswich

Although he has been seen as somewhat of an after-thought during his first couple of years at Manchester City, his loan at Ipswich is going more successfully than his previous one at West Ham.

Performance levels have not yet been excellent from the defensive midfielder, but he is getting consistent game-time and in time he will get back to a level similar to the one that saw him play for England at both Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.

It's been a very difficult few years for Phillips, and he may still have regrets over the club that he came through the ranks at, but a return at this time may not benefit either party.

The Ipswich loanee was excellent during his time at Elland Road, and going back may ruin previous experiences that supporters had of him due to his current dive in form.

Nonetheless, as Kris stated, a move in the next few years could be the perfect way for Phillips to end his career and enjoy his final days at a club that valued him highly. But, for now, Leeds must steer clear.