Leeds United have made an approach for Manchester City midfielder and former Whites star Kalvin Phillips, according to The Sun.

The Lowdown: Zero Premier League starts

Phillips left his boyhood club for the Etihad Stadium last summer in a £45m deal, but things haven’t gone to plan for the 27-year-old in Manchester.

The England international, who shares the same agency as Leeds striker Patrick Bamford, is yet to start a Premier League game under Pep Guardiola, missing large parts of the season with a shoulder injury.

The Man City manager said that the midfielder returned from the World Cup ‘overweight’, and it looks as if a number of clubs are keen on his services.

The Latest: Leeds enquire about Phillips

The Sun’s Phil Thomas shared an update regarding Phillips just after midday on Tuesday, with Leeds being one of three Premier League clubs named with an interest in the midfielder.

The report claimed that Victor Orta has asked about taking the 27-year-old back on loan, although City are refusing to do business with the Whites, Everton or West Ham.

The Verdict: Not a surprise

Although Phillips is yet to make a real impact in Manchester, it doesn’t come as a shock that City have turned down an approach from Leeds.

He is one of just two senior holding midfielders at the Etihad alongside Rodri, and you’d expect that he will receive more minutes as the season goes on, with City still involved in three competitions.

Leeds have also added to their own midfield ranks with a loan swoop for Weston McKennie from Juventus, and it looks as if a return to Elland Road for Phillips won’t materialise today.

McKennie has also outperformed Phillips overall this season, as per WhoScored metrics, so you'd expect that Orta and co are delighted with a move for the USA international.