Leeds United are laying down plans for the summer transfer window while Daniel Farke and his players push for automatic promotion to the Premier League in the final eight games of the season. The club are strategising for the summer with the view of being a top-flight club and are laying down the groundwork for several deals. Leeds want to be ready to attack the market as soon as they secure promotion and certain players are on their radar ahead of next summer. One particular player has been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road but the Whites are waiting for more clarity before engaging in serious conversations over a transfer.
Farke and his players can’t afford to think about what can happen in the summer as they are very much in the middle of a three-way fight for two automatic promotion spots.
However, Leeds remain top favourites to get promoted and the club are putting down their transfer plans with the assumption of being a top-flight side in the summer.
Leeds have made certain decisions on certain players but they can’t make moves in the market until they are sure of playing in the Premier League next season.
The club have also identified players who could come in and make a difference with the thought of being a club that would need to recruit to survive in the Premier League next season.
Leeds are believed to be working on a deal to sign a midfielder from the Premier League but they can’t make any substantive moves before promotion is secured.
Leeds United are yet to hold substantive discussions for Kalvin Phillips, waiting for the player to move on the financial terms
Kalvin Phillips has been heavily linked with a return to his boyhood club where he came through the ranks and became a pivotal player under Marcelo Bielsa.
The former White wants to return to Leeds and is said to be pushing for a move back to Elland Road in the summer transfer window when his loan stint at Ipswich expires.
He has three years left on his contract at the Etihad but Manchester City are prepared to sell the player in the next window for a cut-price deal.
However, according to Leeds Live, the Whites are yet to hold any discussions with Phillips or Manchester City for a summer switch to Elland Road.
The midfielder wants to return and Leeds would be open to signing him but several things need to happen before any deal can be agreed upon.
For starters, Leeds need to get promoted first and Phillips would also have to take a pay cut as the Whites cannot afford to match his current wages at the Etihad.
Manchester City also need to be more reasonable during negotiations and Leeds would only agree to sign him if he is available for a fee in the region of £20m.
Both sides need to move on several aspects of the deal before even a discussion could take place for the potential transfer of Phillips to Elland Road.
How desperate is Phillips?
Phillips was termed the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ when he emerged as one of the sought-after midfielders in England under Bielsa and even became a key player in the Three Lions’ team managed by Gareth Southgate.
However, his career has been going downhill since he moved to Manchester City where he was lambasted by Pep Guardiola for his fitness and he never quite recovered.
He had a loan spell at West Ham in the latter half of last season and joined Ipswich last summer on another loan deal.
With the Tractor Boys set to get relegated, the midfielder needs a new club and a return to Leeds obviously appeals to the boyhood Whites fan.
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However, Leed supporters are deeply divided on whether they want him back partly because of his performances since leaving and partly because he seemingly left the club for ‘money’.
Leeds cannot afford to match his current wages and any deal would have to involve Phillips taking a significant pay cut to return to Elland Road.
If he is ready to take that financial hit, it would show the Leeds fans that he is desperate to return and could bring them back on his side.
Now Leeds and their supporters await to see whether the 29-year-old is prepared to make that financial sacrifice to return to Elland Road.
