Manchester City could reportedly make Kalvin Phillips available for loan in the January transfer window.
The England international, 27, left Leeds United for the Sky Blues for £42m in July 2022, but due to injuries and competition for starting spots, he has made just 26 appearances for the club, only four of which have been starts. He has been picked for England’s upcoming double-header against Australia and Italy despite his lack of game time at club level, which shows that Gareth Southgate still rates him highly.
According to iNews, Manchester City are ‘increasingly likely to part ways with Kalvin Phillips in January’ after Pep Guardiola’s ‘latest glaring snub’ of Kalvin Phillips.
With Rodri suspended for Man City’s encounter against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, the natural choice would have been for Phillips to step in. However, Guardiola opted to start teenager Rico Lewis, who is naturally a full-back, in a midfield role in City’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates.
The fact that Lewis was preferred ahead of Phillips speaks volumes, so a loan in January could be the best thing for him. And with City now open to loan out Phillips in January, here are three potential destinations for the defensive midfielder.
#Everton
Everton needs quality additions in January to ensure that they stay far away from the relegation zone, and Phillips would represent exactly that.
Phillips may have struggled since joining Man City due to various factors, but there is still a more than capable player there. The 27-year-old was arguably one of the best defensive midfielders in the county during his time at Leeds United and he would be a valuable addition to Everton’s midfield.
With Idrissa Gueye and Abdoulaye Doucoure set to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations in mid-January, there will be space for a new midfielder to come in at Goodison Park. A Premier League-proven midfielder like Phillips could be a smart move for Everton, offering Sean Dyche’s side steel and bite in midfield, as well as much-needed protection to their shaky backline.
#West Ham
West Ham may have signed James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez to offset the departure of Declan Rice in the summer, but with David Moyes’ side competing in the Europa League this season, they could do with some more depth in the midfield unit.
Phillips would fit into West Ham’s age bracket and profile in terms of Moyes’ style of football. Fit, athletic, energetic and good on the ball, the England international would further enhance the Hammers’ first XI, whilst adding solidity to their midfield.
Phillips just hasn’t had opportunities at City to really remind everyone of just how good he can be. At West Ham under Moyes, though, he would get time and opportunities to express himself on the pitch and regain his lost mojo.
#Newcastle United
Phillips remains hugely out of favour at City, which has put many clubs on red alert. Newcastle United are among those, with Eddie Howe in need of more high-profile additions to build a team capable of competing on multiple fronts, including the UEFA Champions League.
As a result, a winter move for the Man City outcast could benefit all parties. Eddie Howe is thought to be a big admirer of Phillips’ qualities in and out of possession, and the England international would offer a different sort of profile to any of the players already in situ at Newcastle.
High energy, work rate, tenacious tackler and constructive in possession, Phillips looks a prototype Eddie Howe player in many aspects and is a modern-day midfielder who would improve the Magpies’ first XI. The ex-Leeds star would bring in competition for the likes of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff while adding to the squad depth, so a move to Newcastle on loan would make sense to Phillips.
