Manchester City has reportedly set a £50 million price tag on Kalvin Phillips in anticipation of the January transfer window, despite his limited playing time. Phillips, who was acquired by the reigning champions for £42 million in 2022, could potentially bring in substantial revenue if the club were to receive such an offer. However, during his fifteen months at the club, the midfielder has only started five matches, which raises questions about his future and his spot in the England national team ahead of Euro 2024.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, did not rule out the possibility of Phillips departing in January. With just over 70 minutes of Premier League action spread across six games this season, Phillips has only been in the starting lineup once. The Mirror suggests that Manchester City is optimistic about securing a return on their investment, and several clubs are considering making a move for the 27-year-old.
Newcastle appears to have identified Phillips as a potential target for the January transfer window, particularly after Sandro Tonali received a ten-month suspension for breaching betting regulations. West Ham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Aston Villa are also reportedly interested. During the summer, there were rumors linking Phillips to West Ham, but he expressed his desire to stay and compete for his position at Manchester City.
Phillips did start the League Cup match against Newcastle last month following Rodri’s three-match domestic suspension. However, he was benched for the games against Wolves and Arsenal. Since the most recent international break, he has made only one brief appearance as a substitute.
In the meantime, it is believed that both Manchester City and Newcastle are competing for Exequiel Palacios, a midfielder currently playing for Bayer Leverkusen. Palacios has been instrumental in his team’s successful start to the season, which has seen them leading the Bundesliga. The 25-year-old Argentine midfielder has started ten of his twelve games this season and recently signed a contract extension with Leverkusen, tying him to the club until 2028.
According to TNT Sports Argentina, Newcastle might be considering a move to replace Sandro Tonali in their midfield, but Manchester City is also monitoring the situation closely, as they are interested in the defensive midfield player.
Overall, despite Kalvin Phillips’ limited playing time at Manchester City, the club is seeking a substantial transfer fee for him in the upcoming January window. Multiple clubs, including Newcastle, are considering making a move for the midfielder, making it a situation to watch as the transfer window approaches.
