Kalvin Phillips tipped to reject ‘eye-catching’ transfer in favour of West Ham United deal
Kalvin Phillips has been tipped to reject an “eye-catching” transfer to La Liga in favour of signing a short-term deal with West Ham United, by Matt Law.
The Telegraph journalist reported on their website on Wednesday (17 January) that the Manchester City midfielder’s future is set to be decided in the next week amid interest from six teams including Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
However, English clubs, namely West Ham, Crystal Palace and Newcastle United remain in the race as Phillips looks for regular first-team football, something that neither Spanish giant may be able to offer the England international.
Instead, a short-term switch to the London Stadium would all but guarantee the 28-year-old a starting role and give him the best chance of winning back his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024.
Could be on
It isn’t too often you hear West Ham United, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid muttered in the same sentence when discussing potential transfer targets, but the Hammers seem well in the race for Phillips’ signature at the moment.
The 28-year-old needs regular first-team football and while a move to either Spanish giant may well be attractive, the England international has struggled at big clubs already in his career and the same could likely occur either at the Camp Nou or in Madrid.
A move to West Ham would be beneficial to all parties as Phillips would play regularly while David Moyes would have another midfield option to finally allow him to rest and rotate his preferred midfield trio of Tomas Soucek, James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez.
Whether or not Phillips will view his next career move in such a sensible way remains to be seen, but the Hammers shouldn’t be put off of a potential game-changing transfer just because Barcelona and Madrid are both also sniffing around.
In other West Ham news, a twist has emerged surrounding Moyes’ new contract at the London Stadium
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