There is no shortage of transfer links swirling around the Leeds United sphere as the club eye up plenty of players for possible moves to Elland Road this summer.
The Whites will be in the market to strengthen their squad after they won the Championship, with 100 points, and earned promotion back to the Premier League.
Daniel Farke is looking to bolster his team with new signings, and has already been linked with a number of stars. The club are reportedly in talks over a deal for Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol, for example.
The Championship champions have also reportedly made contact with Premier League rivals Fulham over a potential move for their centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz.
Leeds are clearly targeting players in several areas of the pitch, in defence and in attack, but there is one central midfielder who has also been linked with a return to Elland Road, Kalvin Phillips.
However, a recent report suggested that a move back to West Yorkshire is unlikely for the Manchester City outcast, which could be good news for Farke.
Why Leeds should not sign Kalvin Phillips
TEAMtalk recently claimed that Leeds United are not planning a move to bring the England international back to the club this summer, because they have a budget that they do not want to waste and his £150k-per-week wages would be difficult to take on.
The outlet added that Phillips is also dealing with an Achilles problem that is set to keep him out for a big chunk of pre-season next month, which means that he would be playing catch-up heading into the campaign when the Whites need a fast start.
Even taking the financial issue and his injury situation out of the equation, the West Yorkshire outfit should not sign the defensive midfielder because of his dismal performances in the Premier League in recent years.
Phillips failed to make the grade at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola and was sent out on loan to West Ham United for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, before joining Ipswich on loan this season.
Appearances
12
19
Starts
3
14
Dribbled past per game
4x
25x
Error led to shot
0
1
Error led to goal
1
1
Red cards
1
1
Ground duel success rate
42%
46%
As you can see in the table above, the 29-year-old dud was dribbled past more than once per start across both spells and dominated in duels on the deck, whilst also being sent off for both clubs.
Phillips has been a liability in the Premier League in the past 18 months, as evidenced by his dismal statistics and the scathing criticism from referee Mike Dean in the clip below, and that is why the club are right not to be interested in signing him this summer.
Farke, however, could land his own version of Phillips, when he was at his best at Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa, by signing the club’s latest reported target.
Leeds eyeing deal for Championship star
According to the printed edition of the Daily Mail (9 Jun, page 55), as relayed by MOT Leeds News, the Championship champions are lining up a move for Southampton defensive midfielder Shea Charles.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The report claims that the Whites ‘admire’ the Northern Ireland international, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, ahead of a potential swoop for him in the summer transfer window.
It does not, however, reveal how much money Southampton would want for the 21-year-old talent, who signed for the club from Manchester City in a deal reported to be worth up to £15m in the summer of 2023.
Leeds must, now, press ahead with a move to sign the Championship enforcer this summer because he could be Farke’s own version of Phillips next season.
Why Shea Charles could be Kalvin Phillips 2.0
As aforementioned, the Manchester City flop is not in his best moment right now, after two dismal loan spells, but he earned a move to Guardiola’s side off the back of two impressive seasons in the Premier League with Leeds under Bielsa.
In the 2020/21 campaign, Phillips made 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game, winning 52% of his duels, whilst completing 85% of his attempted passes in the top-flight.
That was the England international at his best for the Whites, as a combative and composed midfielder, and Charles’ performances for Sheffield Wednesday suggest that he can offer similar qualities in the middle of the park.
As you can see in the chart above, the Northern Irish star’s statistics this season are notably similar to Phillips’ in the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, whilst he also excelled more in possession as a progressive passer and carrier.
Whilst these statistics are only from his displays at Championship level, Charles has plenty of time left to develop and improve at the age of 21, and he could grow into being Farke’s own version of Phillips at his peak.
Appearances
43
Assists
5
Tackles + interceptions per game
3.9
Ball recoveries per game
5.7
Dribbled past per game
0.7x
Ground duel success rate
58%
Aerial duel success rate
60%
As you can see in the table above, the Southampton loanee caught the eye with his defensive work for the Owls in the second tier, making almost four tackles and interceptions per game without being dribbled past very often.
Charles, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed has “undeniable Premier League potential”, can offer the destructive midfield presence that Phillips provided Bielsa with, but without a tendency to be taken out of the game with ease by being dribbled past.
The midfield star may also be more reliable defensively than Phillips because he ended the season without any errors that led to shots or goals for the opposition and was not sent off a single time.
Therefore, Farke could unearth an even bigger talent than the England international by signing Charles, because he has the potential to be more reliable defensively whilst also offering more in possession with his progressive passes and progressive carries to influence play on the ball.
He must go before Bamford: Leeds have told £11m flop he will now be sold
Leeds have told this flop that he must leave this summer, and the dud must go before Patrick Bamford.
1 ByDan Emery
It is now down to the club to strike an agreement with Southampton to bring the Northern Ireland international to Elland Road to bolster the manager’s midfield options for the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.