Kalvin Phillips reacts to Struijk’s message amid Leeds United return rumours
Pascal Struijk caught the attention of former teammate Kalvin Phillips as rumours continue to swirl around a potential Leeds United return.
The midfielder has achieved very little since departing Elland Road in 2022, making just 31 appearances for Man City and being sent out on loan to West Ham and Ipswich Town during that time.
That has not stopped him from celebrating his former teammates’ success, however, after Daniel Farke led the Whites to the Championship title with a dramatic 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle on the final day of the season.
Manor Solomon and Willy Gnonto were the heroes at Home Park, leading to the side beating Burnley to the Championship’s top spot following a long, gruelling season, with new rumours now being sparked.
Pascal Struijk still celebrating after Leeds United parade
Taking to Instagram (5 May), Struijk wrote: “I really enjoyed the view on my way to work today…” alongside a selection of photos from the Whites’ open-top bus parade.
Past and present Leeds stars, Ethan Ampadu, Archie Gruev, Dan James, and Mateusz Klich all liked the post, being joined by former midfielder Phillips on social media.
The Man City man, currently on loan at Ipswich Town, has long been linked with an Elland Road return, with Mick Brown telling Football Insider that Phillips is one step closer to joining Leeds this summer.
Daniel Farke ready to splash the cash at Elland Road
Football Insider verdict
Farke’s record in the Premier League has seen concerns raised about his ability to keep Leeds from dropping straight back down to the Championship next season.
While the Whites may have claimed 100 points in the second tier of English football, there is no guarantee that the German can transfer those performances to the Premier League.
Therefore, 49ers Enterprises must bring out a blank chequebook and give the manager exactly what he needs to survive, which was not possible when he won promotion with Norwich City.
| Manager | Games | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
| Daniel Farke | 49 | 6 | 8 | 35 | 12.2 |
Leeds signing Solomon from Tottenham on a permanent deal could be an incredible transfer, with Joe Rothwell also a much-loved figure at Elland Road thanks to his goal contributions.
Standing strong during the summer transfer window will also be important, especially given the rumours linking Ao Tanaka, Struijk, and Gnonto with big-money moves elsewhere.
Leeds will be desperate to stay in the Premier League next season, and unless the owners are going to back the manager, that will become extremely difficult very quickly.