LEEDS’ promotion to the top flight may spark an emotional Elland Road return for Kalvin Phillips.
And his home town club could land their former skipper for half the £42million Manchester City paid to sign him three years ago.
Phillips left Leeds in 2022 after 12 years at the club, with fans dubbing him the Yorkshire Pirlo.
But his first two seasons at City brought just six starts, while boss Pep Guardiola called him overweight on returning from the 2022 World Cup.
Guardiola apologised, but the midfielder remained an Etihad outcast and spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham.
He joined newly promoted Ipswich in August, but there have been just 16 starts and one goal in a Portman Road switch that never took off.
It has been a stunning fall from grace for the midfielder, who helped lead Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds into the top flight in 2020, after a 16-year absence.
Current Elland Road boss Daniel Farke knows he needs to strengthen for their Prem return.
A move for Phillips — with the added incentive of proving he can still cut it in the top flight — is a no brainer for both Leeds and the player.
SunSport first exclusively suggested Leeds’ interest in Phillips last month.
And in February he “liked” a post that highlighted the flying form of Elland Road winger Dan James.
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Now momentum for a possible move is building.
It comes as Farke shrugged off speculation over his own future.
There’s been talk that Leeds’ US-based owners 49s Enterprises are not convinced he’s the right person to oversee the club at top-flight level.
But asked if he felt disrespected, Farke said: “Not at all, it’s not surprising.
“I knew for which club I signed, I’m not sure how many managers Leeds had in the last 20 years, but it’s a good effort if you last for three months.
“Once you sign a contract, there’s lots of pressure, noise, expectations.
“On a weekly basis someone is linked. It’s nothing new.”
