Few Leeds United supporters had any complaints when Kalvin Phillips left Elland Road to join Manchester City this summer. While there may have been question marks surrounding the fee Pep Guardiola's side paid for the midfielder, the Whites' faithful knew it was time for the 26-year-old to test himself against some of the best in the world.
Phillips was one of, if not the standout performer for Leeds during his final few seasons with the club. The transition from bit part academy player to midfield general under Marcelo Bielsa is one of the feel good stories to come out of Thorp Arch.
However, the move to the Premier League Champions has been a difficult one. Despite winning England's Player of The Year after a stellar EURO 2020, injuries plagued his final year with Leeds and those problems have carried on at The Etihad.
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As such, talkSPORT presenter Gabby Agbonlahor even told the former Whites midfielder he should head back to Elland Road on loan, as he tries to regain fitness. Leeds Live spoke with Manchester City Writer for the Manchester Evening News, Joe Bray, for an insight into Phillips' move spell and whether talk of a loan move could become a reality.
What was the general consensus among supporters when he arrived?
Joe Bray: "City needed a midfielder this summer with Fernandinho departing, and Phillips had been one of the best in the Premier League in the last year or so. He was available for an affordable price, so it went down pretty well - even if it always has felt like he came to support Rodri rather than replace him."
How do you think the price tag reflects him as a player and do you think he's seen as a long term successor in the heart of midfield?
JB: "For an England international and a club captain of a Premier League rival, £44m is fairly good value these days (especially when you consider they spent £100m on Jack Grealish). He's clearly a talented player, and City have a track record of developing England players like him from mid-table clubs.
"Guardiola has made it clear that he sees Phillips as offering something different to Rodri, while Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne aren't getting any younger, so there's definitely a long-term space in midfield if he can stay fit and take it."
How has he fared in the few minutes he's had on the pitch this season?
JB: "It's really hard to say, because we've seen so little of him. In the two pre-season games, he came off the bench to play centre-back as Ruben Dias was the only central defender in the squad in America.
"Then he had a couple of cameos in midfield, he started one mid-season charity match at Barcelona, and then injured his shoulder which kept him out for so long. He's looked solid and tidy as you'd expect, but hasn't had any real chance to impact a game and show his qualities."
What role do you think he'll have for the rest of the campaign now he's back fit?
JB: "Most likely as an alternative defensive midfield option to Rodri, who's undroppable for the big games and has had to be relied upon three times a week in Phillips' absence. If he can reduce the load on Rodri and use the rest of the season to get up to speed in Guardiola's system, there are minutes available to him for sure."
He was named England's player of the year after a bright Euro 2020 campaign. How do you think Pep will develop him in the years to come?
JB: "If you look at the other midfielders Guardiola has developed at City, there's scope for him to follow the route of Rodri and Fernandinho to become the holding midfielder, or alternatively play a box-to-box role like Ilkay Gundogan or Kevin De Bruyne. If he can stay fit, then he could have the attributes to be a useful all-rounder. The more successful players under Guardiola can play different positions and roles, and Phillips looks like he can do that."
There's been some outside noise telling Phillips to head out on loan, do you think that could happen this season?
JB: "I'd very much doubt it. His absence was felt in the first months of the campaign as City had to rely heavily on Rodri, and it would be a surprise to send a £44m summer signing out on loan. He's got himself back fit, so can use the rest of the season to make up for lost time, get used to Guardiola's demands, and support the midfield to cope with a very busy fixture schedule coming up."
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