Kalvin Phillips door wide open for West Ham United transfer amid ‘very, very likely’ Fabrizio Romano update
The door is swinging wide open for West Ham to finally get their man in Kalvin Phillips after Fabrizio Romano reported that it is now “very, very likely” that he leaves Manchester City in January.
The Irons have been repeatedly linked to the England midfielder since having a £50million bid turned down for him when he was still a Leeds United player in January two seasons ago [Guardian, 29 January 2022], as he struggled for game time under Pep Guardiola.
With the 27-year-old’s £42m switch to the Etihad resulting in almost as many medals as actual appearances Italian journalist Romano said on the Caught Offside Debrief Mailbag on 23 October that both player and club now expect him to move on this winter.
Romano said (2.12pm): “I see him leaving. At the moment it’s not 100% decided yet but the feeling I have, speaking to some sources, is that it’s very, very likely for Kalvin Phillips to leave in the January transfer window.
“That’s the idea, that’s the feeling, because the player in public and also in private is being very honest with people close to him.
“He’s always telling them he wants to play, he’s to be a regular starter. He wanted to try this new opportunity at Manchester City in the first part of the season because in the summer he had some opportunities to go on a permanent transfer or loan but he always said he wanted to stay at Manchester City to fight for his place.
“But now we are at the end of October and he’s almost never playing, and also for the Euros for Phillips it’s always important to be on the pitch and have the opportunity to develop.
“So he’s being super professional, that’s why Manchester City are very happy with his approach and mentality, but at the same time they know they will receive proposals for the January transfer window and it’s going to be very likely for Kalvin to leave.
“So at the moment it’s not something they’ve decided in a direct meeting but both sides, player and club, see this situation in the same way with a likely exit in January.”
David Moyes’ original plan almost two years ago was to recreate Gareth Southgate’s England pairing of Phillips and former West Ham captain Declan Rice.
But with the latter now an Arsenal player, and replaced by Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse during the summer, and with Jude Bellingham’s emergence become key at international level, the landscape is very different.
Tomas Soucek’s form has returned after two down years but his contract status at the London Stadium remains unclear, after it was reported he had signed a new deal but the club have never actually confirmed as such.
But despite three senior options for Moyes it only takes one or two injuries, suspensions or a loss of form to leave the Irons short in the centre, with Flynn Downes having been sent on loan to Southampton.
Moyes spent a lot of effort trying to sign Scott McTominay from Manchester United in the summer without success, but now The Sun (21 October) reports that Phillips could even be available on a loan-to-buy deal in January.
A long-term target, proven at international level and with domestic experience, is there for the taking a lower price than the club previously offered so West Ham look to have an opportunity they need to jump at.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are competing with Brighton for a “simply perfect” international defender.