Kalvin Phillips: ‘Shock’ twist emerges as West Ham United seek deal for Manchester City outcast
West Ham United want to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to The Sun.
The newspaper reported online (19 October) that the Hammers have shown interest in the England international along with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Newcastle United, who are seeking a loan.
Phillips has struggled for game time this season with just three substitute appearances this season despite being allowed to leave in the summer.
Necessary?
Phillips is a quality midfielder but is not offered the game time to prove it. His Manchester City career never took off and he’s been lost in the shuffle of their world-class midfield options.
While the Hammers are not quite the level of Pep Guardiola’s side, Phillips could find himself in a similar situation at West Ham as he has at the Etihad.
After a blistering start to the season, Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse and Tomas Soucek have all established themselves as David Moyes’ go-to midfielders across the Premier League and Europa League. There just doesn’t seem to be the space in the squad for Phillips to have a regular and guaranteed role without displacing a standout player.
Inter Milan, as reported by the Daily Mail (12 October), have been “keeping tabs” on Soucek, so the Czech international’s departure could leave space to bring Phillips in. The 27-year-old has the quality and skill to fit well in a Moyes side and a club the size of West Ham would suit him.
Leaving a huge club like Manchester City after having no noticeable impact on any of their success can be disheartening. Phillips doesn’t seem to be in any rush to leave Manchester City and, his huge paycheck aside, may want to fight for his place.
Stratford could offer Phillips a good home, but the onus is on him to decide where his future lies.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are in the hunt to sign one Bundesliga ace, with £35million needed to seal the transfer.