There is no shortage of transfer links swirling around Leeds United balls, aiming to become a number of players that could move to Elland Road this summer.
The whites will strengthen their teams after winning the championship with 100 points and return to the Premier League to win the promotion.
Daniel Fark is trying to strengthen his team with a new signature, and has already linked to many stars. For example, the club is reportedly in discussions over a contract with Udinese centre back Zakabjor.
The Championship champion also reportedly contacted Premier League rival Fulham about the potential moves of centre forward Rodri Gomnis.
Leeds clearly targets players in several regions of the pitch, defense and offense, but there is one central midfielder who has also been linked to Elland Road’s return to Calvin Phillips.
However, recent reports suggest that a move to West Yorkshire is unlikely to happen to Manchester City outcasts. This may be good news for Fark.
Why Leeds shouldn’t sign Calvin Phillips
TeamTalk recently claimed that Leeds United has not planned a move to return England International to the club this summer.
The outlet added that Phillips is also dealing with the Achilles issue.
Even if he stripped the financial issues and the circumstances of his injury from the equation, the West Yorkshire outfit should not sign a defensive midfielder due to his disastrous performance in the Premier League in recent years.
Phillips was unable to make a grade at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola and was loaned to West Ham United late in the 2023/24 campaign before joining Ipswich on loan this season.
Kalvin Phillips (Premier League) | 23/24 (West Ham) | 24/25 (Ipswich) |
|---|---|---|
exterior | 12 | 19 |
start | 3 | 14 |
I dribbled the past with each game | 4x | 25x |
The error led to a shot | 0 | 1 |
The error led to the goal | 1 | 1 |
Red card | 1 | 1 |
Success rate for ground dueling | 42% | 46% |
Statistics via Sofascore | ||
As you can see from the table above, the 29-year-old DUD was dribbled over and over with each start with both spells, dominated by deck duels, but also sent to both clubs.
Phillips has been responsible for the Premier League for the past 18 months. That’s why the club is not interested in signing him this summer, as evidenced by his gross statistics and the poignant criticism from umpire Mike Dean in the clip below.
However, Fark was able to land his own version of Philips when he was in his best condition in Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa by signing the club’s latest target.
Leeds inquiry with Championship Star
According to a print edition of The Daily Mail (June 9, p. 55), the Championship champions line up the moves of Southampton defensive midfielder Shea Charles, as broadcast by Mot Leeds News.
The report claims White will lend a 2024/25 campaign in Sheffield on Wednesday to “praise” Northern Ireland International, which was loaned out ahead of a potential dive for him during the summer transfer period.
However, it has not revealed how much money Southampton wants for the 21-year-old talent who signed the Manchester City club in a transaction reportedly worth up to £15 million in the summer of 2023.
Leeds must move forward to signing the Championship Enforcer this summer.
Why Shea Charles becomes Calvin Phillips 2.0
As mentioned earlier, Manchester City Flop wasn’t his best moment after two brooding loan spells, but he moved to Guardiola’s side from behind two impressive seasons in the Leeds and Premier League under Bielsa.
In the 2020/21 campaign, Phillips made 4.2 tackles and intercepts per game, earning 52% of duels and completing 85% of pass attempts on top flights.
It is his best England International for whites as a militant and composed midfielder, and Charles’ performance in Sheffield on Wednesday suggests he can offer similar qualities in the middle of the park.
As you can see from the chart above, the Northern Ireland star’s statistics this season are particularly similar to Phillips in the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, but he was also better as a progressive passerby and carrier.
These statistics are only from displays at the championship level, but Charles left plenty of time to develop and improve at the age of 21, allowing him to grow into Phillips’ version of Phillips at peak times.
24/25 Championship | Sea Charles |
|---|---|
exterior | 43 |
assist | 5 |
Tackle + Intercept per game | 3.9 |
Ball recovery for each game | 5.7 |
I dribbled the past with each game | 0.7x |
Success rate for ground dueling | 58% |
Success rate for air duel | 60% |
Statistics via Sofascore | |
As you can see at the table above, Southampton lenders caught their eye with the defensive work of the second tier owls, and did almost four tackles and intercepts per game, and didn’t dribble very often.
Charles, who claimed that Talent Scout Jacek Kulig had “an undeniable Premier League possibility,” can provide the destructive midfield presence that Phillips provided Bielsa, but doesn’t tend to be easily taken out of the game by being dribbled in the past.
The midfield star may be more defensively reliable than Phillips. Because he ended the season without errors that led to opposition shots and goals, which only once was not sent.
Thus, Fark was able to unearth an even greater talent than England International by signing Charles. Because he will provide more equipment for his progressive passes and progressive carry, which could affect his play on the ball.
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Currently, they have reached an agreement with Southampton and are working together to bring Northern Ireland International to Erndo Road to enhance managers’ midfield options since the 2025/26 campaign.
