Exclusive: How Kalvin Phillips Almost Made English Football’s Most Controversial Transfer

As he settles into life with Sheffield United, SportsBoom can reveal that Kalvin Phillips was being lined-up to make one of the most difficult transfers in English football before heading to the Manchester City.

According to sources who have all held senior positions in the North-West, Manchester United were seriously considering the possibility of swooping for the midfielder following his breakthrough season with Leeds United.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was beginning his spell in charge of the Red Devils when, together with high-ranking members of Old Trafford’s coaching staff, he put Phillips’ name forward as a potential acquisition. 

But, even though the midfielder was widely being tipped for a call-up to the England squad at the time, something he eventually achieved two years later, in 2020, the recruitment department Solskjaer had inherited from his predecessor Jose Mourinho were not so keen and eventually persuaded the Norwegian to look elsewhere.

“I know there were quite a few people working on the actual football side of things on the ground, who rated Kalvin really highly and wanted to bring him in,” one contact with knowledge of the discussions confirmed.

"The only trouble was, the people who were putting together the lists of targets, the data people, weren’t so determined to get something done."

“The coaches pushed for a while but then, because they could see what was happening and the way the game was going, eventually gave up and looked elsewhere. The whole deal just sort of withered on the vine.”

“Whether Kalvin would have wanted to do it, we’ll never know,” he added. 

“The whole Leeds/Manchester United relationship would have made it really difficult if he had. But the interest, from Ole and his group at least, was definitely there and, to be honest, he’d have probably enjoyed more personal success with United than City because he’d have just slotted straight in rather than having to try and reinvent himself.”

Tough Spell at City 

Now aged 30, Phillips was rated as one of the most exciting talents in the country when he made the switch to Pep Guardiola’s team in 2022. 

However, after being criticised by the Catalan for being out of condition, he has made only 32 appearances for City since then. 

Having been loaned out to West Ham and Ipswich Town, Phillips agreed another temporary move during the recent transfer window, opting to drop into the Championship with Sheffield United despite January interest from Leeds United and Everton.