234-game Leeds United title-winner eyed for shock January transfer by relegation rivals
The much-loved former Leeds United midfielder could be handed a Premier League lifeline in the January transfer window.
Former Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has been linked with a shock January move to one of the Premier League’s relegation favourites.
Phillips has endured a difficult time since leaving Leeds for Manchester City in a £45million deal three-and-a-half years ago. The midfielder has been unable to hit the heights he did under Marcelo Bielsa with the serial Premier League champions, with fitness problems playing their part in a lack of football.
The 30-year-old has twice left City on loan but neither West Ham United nor Ipswich Town opted to make his stay permanent, and an Achilles injury scuppered any chance of a summer move. This season he’s played just eight minutes of Carabao Cup football but could be handed a lifeline by one of Leeds’ relegation rivals.
FourFourTwo report that Wolves have Phillips on their ‘transfer radar’ as they look to achieve a miracle in avoiding relegation. The Midlands club are currently rock-bottom of the Premier League but did record their first win of the season on Saturday, beating fellow strugglers West Ham 3-0 at Molineux.
It seems Wolves haven’t yet given up hope as they look to strengthen Rob Edwards’ squad for an unlikely survival bid, with a January loan move for Phillips being considered. Interest comes amid reports elsewhere of interest in Molineux midfield anchor Joao Gomes from further up the division.
It remains to be seen if Wolves will actively pursue a move for Phillips but parent club City would likely be open to discussing a deal, given he’s played no part whatsoever in their Premier League campaign. One potential stumbling block could be the former Leeds man’s wages and whether the two clubs could come together and share the burden in some way.
Leeds United hero could join relegation rivals
Phillips would also have to greenlight the move but having featured less than a host of City academy graduates this season, he is short of alternative options. The report from FourFourTwo adds the 2019/20 Leeds promotion hero would be open to proving himself away from the Etihad, although he will likely need to prove his fitness.
A January move to Molineux would see Phillips join a direct relegation rival of his former club Leeds, albeit there would need to be a major turnaround on both ends for the two clubs to come close in points terms. Daniel Farke’s side are currently four places and 16 points clear of Wolves having gone seven unbeaten.
As things stand, Leeds will be more concerned with the likes of West Ham and Nottingham Forest directly below them. The struggling pair face one another at the London Stadium this evening with at least one guaranteed to drop points ahead of Farke’s side facing Newcastle on Wednesday.
Should Phillips join Wolves, he will no doubt have an eye on April 18 when the Midlands side head to Elland Road. Leeds have already been to Molineux, where they recorded their first away win of the campaign in September, coming from a goal down to win 3-1.