The Bucks Free Press understands Matt Phillips and Fred Onyedinma would be open to a return to Wycombe Wanderers this summer.
The duo, who have had previous stints in South Buckinghamshire, are currently free agents following their departures from West Bromwich Albion and Luton Town respectively.
Matt Phillips has left #WBA pic.twitter.com/KH2vfOy8v0
— Baggie Fans (@BaggieFans) May 21, 2024
It has been rumoured that Phillips, who is from Aylesbury, has been working with a personal trainer in Oxford to maintain his fitness in the hunt for a new club.
He currently remains unattached.
And the goal that silenced them. 😬
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) August 8, 2018
Matt Phillips rescued @WBA a point, and got the away end bouncing with this belter last night. 💥 pic.twitter.com/JnYCCnTKbH
Whilst for Onyedinma, the Nigerian has had three previous spells with the Chairboys, and there had been loose speculation that he could have made his fourth return to Wanderers in January this year.
However, after suffering a ‘significant injury’ whilst on loan at Rotherham United, no deal ever materialised.
He remained out of action for four months before making his comeback as a Premier League player in the Hatters’ 2-1 loss against Tottenham Hotspur in March – his first appearance for the club in nearly a year.
Wycombe have been busy in the transfer market this summer, signing Tyreeq Bakinson, Jaiden Bartolo, Alex Hartridge, Jack Matton, Brody Peart, Daniel Harvie, Daniel Udoh and Nathan Bishop.
They have also seen several departures with Chris Forino, Max Stryjek, Joe Jacobson, D’Mani Mellor, Nathan Shepperd, Kane Vincent-Young and Jack Wakely all leaving permanently.
Midfielder Taylor Clark has also left but on a six-month loan to Non League Farnborough.
Phillips' links with Wycombe
The 33-year-old began his career with the Chairboys in 1999 aged eight and spent nine years in the academy and youth team.
The utility player, who can play as a left-back, winger, or striker, impressed coaches and was brought into the first team at the end of the 2007/08 campaign aged just 17.
He made the club's final four matchday squads of that season, playing three times as Wycombe reached the 2008 League Two play-offs.
However, they would lose in the semi-finals to eventual winners, Stockport County.
He would then play a further 84 times for Wycombe during the next two-and-a-bit years, scoring nine times, helping the club achieve promotion to League One in 2009, whilst also making his England Youth Team debut in 2010.
His time at Wanderers also saw him pick up two 'Young Player of the Year' awards and the League Two 'Apprentice of the Year.'
🏆 Matt Phillips - League Two Apprentice of the Year 2009 🏆
— League Football Education (@LFEonline) February 7, 2019
Wycombe Wanderers Apprentice
Currently at West Brom
🏴 14 caps for @ScotlandNT
🏅 League Two promotion as an Apprentice
🏅 Championship promotion with QPR
🌟 PFA Championship Team of the Year 11-12#RaisedInTheEFL pic.twitter.com/p6iAT3Zvsp
Phillips would eventually leave for Premier League Blackpool, before having successful stints at Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers and West Brom.
In all, he played 142 matches in the top flight, scored 12 times and registered 23 assists for three teams across five seasons.
2927. Matt PHILLIPS
— Premier League Players (@premlgeplayers) July 17, 2024
Winger - 13.03.91 - SCO (16/1)
Prem Debut:
25/09/2010 (BLACKPOOL vs. Blackburn Rovers, L 2-1 - sub 84 mins)
Prem Clubs:
Blackpool (10-11), Queens Park Rangers (14-15), West Bromwich Albion (16-18 & 20-21)
Prem Apps: 142
Prem Goals: 12 pic.twitter.com/wIXMrg0hZa
Phillips would also play 16 times for the Scotland National Team, scoring once.
Could Fred return once more?
Fred Onyedinma is no stranger to Adams Park.
During his previous three spells (2014/15, 2018/19 and 2019-21), he played 114 times and scored 23 goals, with each season playing a pivotal role in the club's recent history.
— Out of Context Wycombe (@OutOfContextWyc) May 29, 2021
His first stint saw the Chairboys reach the 2015 play-off final where they lost to Southend, his second spell helped the club avoid relegation back to League Two in 2019, before his third year saw the club achieve promotion to the Championship in 2020, as well as playing in that second-tier campaign in 2021.
Fred Onyedinma has left the #Chairboys to join Luton Town for an undisclosed fee. pic.twitter.com/lWJLaoZhKV
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) May 25, 2021
A move to Luton Town followed that summer, but Onyedinma was used sparingly over the next three years as he battled ongoing injury issues.
Former Wycombe Wanderers players Fred Onyedinma and Admiral Muskwe depart relegated Luton Town 🎤🔽 https://t.co/8mGKPjMrpl pic.twitter.com/22dsRCCHuy
— Chairboys on the Net - Paul Lewis (@GasmanCOTN) May 24, 2024
In all, he featured 60 just times for the Hatters, but did play in the club's 2023 Championship play-off final victory over Coventry City and eight appearances in the Premier League.
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