Man City star could find safe haven at Leeds United: View | OneFootball

Kalvin Phillips has faced a difficult start to life on loan at West Ham United from parent club Manchester City and a switch back to his hometown club, Leeds United, could be the best next step for his career.

The 28-year-old came through the academy system at Thorp Arch and went on to become a pivotal figure for the Whites' senior team, particularly under the tenure of former boss Marco Bielsa.

Phillips' boyhood team agreed a fee of £42million for his transfer to the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2022 for a player that, at that time, was a key man both at Elland Road and for the England national team.

The switch would not prove to be successful, with the midfielder limited to a handful of appearances over the following 18 months, leading to his temporary switch to the London Stadium in January, which has also been fraught with issues.

It could be time to make a decision on his future at the end of this season, and a homecoming may be what serves him best to kick his career back into life.

It is tough to be critical of Phillips for opting to move to City. He would be playing for the current English champions, competing in the Champions League and have the chance to be coached by legendary manager Pep Guardiola.

Although his reasons for the switch make sense, the grass did not prove to be greener on the other side.

Whether it is down to a failure in scouting by those at the Etihad, or a case of the player not living up to expectations once he arrived, it is clear that the move has been a stumbling block in the midfielder's career.

He has made just 31 appearances for the Blues to date, the majority of which as cameos off the bench and in less intense fixtures.

even provoked an apology during a press conference from Guardiola, who admitted that he didn't see where Phillips fitted into his team.

The picture has not improved at West Ham

Time away from the club looked like the best thing for both parties, but his time at the London Stadium so far has produced issues of his own, leaving question marks over what is next for his career.

A difficult introduction saw Phillips partly to blame for Bournemouth's goal in their 1-1 draw. That was followed up a couple of weeks later by his dismissal for two bookable offences against Nottingham Forest, in one of just three starts he's made for the Hammers.

His recent performance against Newcastle United, which saw him give away a penalty and lose his man for Harvey Barnes's winner, has brought his future back into question, a matter not helped by the post-match flare-up with fans as he was getting back onto the team coach.

There have been suggestions that City may want to use Phillips to ease the financial burden of taking West Ham star Lucas Paqueta to the Etihad, but the east London side's interest in a permanent deal will likely be in doubt unless there is a substantial turnaround in performances in the final few games of this season.

A move back to Leeds could be perfect for Phillips' revival

It has been reported that those at Elland Road are interested in bringing Phillips back into the fold, and that move could prove perfect to set his career back on the right track.

The midfielder is adored at the Yorkshire club following his 234 appearances for the side, including the season that saw them return to the Premier League in 2019.

Phillips has been a top player for both club and country, playing against some of the best teams in world football. That talent does not just suddenly disappear.

At West Ham, he cuts a figure that has fallen out of love with the game and is low on confidence.

His best chance of rekindling what he once had is performing in front of a crowd that holds him in high regard, who will afford him time to make mistakes because they have seen before what he has in the locker.