Exclusive: Leeds Eye January Loan to Rescue Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City Nightmare

Leeds United are planning a January loan swoop to end promotion hero Kalvin Phillips' Manchester City nightmare, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

The former England international's career has gone downhill since he moved to Manchester City in 2022 on a six-year deal for a fee of over £40million.

Our sources have been told Daniel Farke wants to bolster his midfield options and wants to bring the 29-year-old back to Elland Road.

SportsBoom sources understand Phillips wages could pose a stumbling block and Leeds would ask City to cover the majority of his hefty £250,000-a-week paycheque. 

Philips has been named in City’s 25-man Premier League squad and holds one of the eight homegrown player slots required when registering a squad list. 

The defensive midfielder has not made a league appearance for the club since November 2023 and his only minutes since then came as a late substitute last month’s EFL Cup victory at League One Huddersfield Town.

Speaking about Phillips’ time at the club, boss Pep Guardiola said: “I feel bad, but he’s an incredible person. Now he’s come back here. He will train with us, we’ll try to help him and maybe he can play some games and get confident.”

Back on Track

Phillips is desperate to reignite his career this season after failed loan spells at West Ham United and Ipswich Town in recent years.

When he made the move to the Etihad three years ago, Phillips was a regular with England but has not featured for his country since 2023.

Guardiola has publicly slammed the player as “unfit to train” in the past and he has made just six starts for the club since moving for a whopping fee.

An academy product at Elland Road, Phillips made over 200 appearances during his time at the cub, memorable starring in the 2020 Premier League promotion under Marcelo Bielsa.