One player has his eyes on a potential move to Leeds United, with Daniel Farke’s side making their stance clear on a January deal.
Unbeaten Leeds eyeing January transfer moves
It’s been a solid last two months for the newly-promoted Whites, who haven’t lost a single Premier League game since November with eight points now separating them from the drop zone.
While this run has been peppered with stalemates, the signs are hugely encouraging for Leeds as they hope to put further ground between them and West Ham in 18th.
Newcastle United awaits on Wednesday evening, and while a trip to St. James’ Park is always tough, Farke’s men go into their North East clash with real momentum from a solid festive period.
The January transfer window also presents an opportunity to strengthen in what would be a crucial month.
While tempering expectations of quick-fire winter deals in the opening week, or any major spending, Farke told reporters before their 1-1 draw with Man United that signings are very much a possibility over the next few weeks.
“Of course, in the background, the club is preparing, also a little bit, and we will see, but also, honestly, I don’t expect a major turnaround,” Farke said.
“This group has achieved a lot, and for that, it’s not like 10 players will leave us and 10 new incomings.
“If we find a solution where we can improve this group then yes, but nothing to speak about yet and right now, full focus is on Man U, on Newcastle, and then around the FA Cup game.”
It is clear by Farke’s message that only obvious squad upgrades will be prioritised, which explains their stance on re-signing Man City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
The £150,000-per-week midfielder has only made one appearance under Pep Guardiola this term, a seven-minute run out in the Carabao Cup against Huddersfield, and has been frozen out of the side for a long time now.
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Phillips spent last season on loan at Ipswich Town, where he failed to convince the Tractor Boys to make his move permanent, and that move was preceded by a dismal six months at West Ham.
Kalvin Phillips keen to re-join Leeds as Whites transfer stance revealed
Now, according to FourFourTwo’s Joe Donnohue, the 31-year-old looks upon the idea of an Elland Road pretty positively.
Phillips is apparently keen on a return to Leeds, though the club are unlikely to pursue negotiations having already strengthened Farke’s midfield with last summer’s arrivals of Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff.
Farke views captain Ethan Ampadu as indispensable at the heart of his system, further reducing any potential pathway back for the former Yorkshire favourite.
Wolves have emerged as serious contenders to offer Phillips a Premier League lifeline this month instead, exploring a loan deal as Rob Edwards seeks reinforcements for the club’s desperate survival battle.
The Midlands outfit finally secured their first league win of the season last weekend by demolishing West Ham 3-0 at Molineux, temporarily easing pressure on Edwards.
As things stand, Wolves are a far more likely destination for Phillips than Leeds, who won’t be swayed by the prospect of an emotional homecoming.
Leeds’ refusal to entertain an approach leaves Phillips facing the stark choice between proving his credentials in a relegation scrap or continuing his Etihad exile under Guardiola, who has made abundantly clear the midfielder holds no future in Manchester.
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He could partner Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
