To be Honest….”- Kieran McKenna Breaks Silence on Potential Kalvin Phillips Return to Ipswich Town
Kieran McKenna Addresses Kalvin Phillips’ Future at Ipswich Town After Premier League Relegation
Kieran McKenna has broken his silence regarding Kalvin Phillips’ future at Ipswich Town following the conclusion of the Premier League season.
Phillips, 29, spent the season on loan with Ipswich, joining after their promotion from the Championship. The England international made 19 appearances in total but was unable to help the club avoid relegation, as the Tractor Boys finished 19th and dropped straight back to the second tier.
With the season now over, Ipswich are beginning preparations for their Championship campaign and a renewed push for promotion. However, it’s unclear whether Phillips will be part of those plans, as he returns to parent club Manchester City.
McKenna: Discussions on Phillips’ Future Yet to Begin
Speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times on May 16, McKenna admitted that the club has yet to hold any serious discussions about Phillips’ future. He emphasized that his focus had been entirely on finishing the season.
“Yeah, look, it’s not something we’ve spoken about or looked at too much in that position yet, to be honest,” McKenna said. “Everyone’s focus—certainly mine and the group around the training ground—has been on the games remaining. That’s where everything has been.”
He added: “I’ve had very few conversations with many of the players about next year. Those conversations will take place maybe a little bit next week, certainly in the days after the season finishes. We’ll see what comes.”
Phillips started 14 of his 19 appearances this season, amassing 1,237 minutes—significantly more than the 402 minutes he played in the previous campaign.
Uncertain Future at Manchester City
Phillips joined Manchester City in 2022 after excelling with Leeds United but has struggled to break into Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup. A combination of limited opportunities and recurring injuries has seen him loaned out to both West Ham United and Ipswich.
Although his contract with City runs until 2028, Phillips is not expected to feature in Guardiola’s plans moving forward, making a permanent transfer a strong possibility this summer.
Whether Ipswich would consider a permanent move for Phillips remains unclear, particularly given the club’s return to the Championship.
It’s also uncertain whether Phillips would be willing to continue in the second tier at this stage of his career.
Ipswich, who finished 16 points behind 17th-placed Tottenham, face a crucial summer ahead.
With promotion ambitions intact, a number of squad changes are expected as the club adapts to life back in the Championship under McKenna’s leadership.
