West Ham to make summer transfer enquiry for Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips
West Ham will reportedly attempt to sign Manchester City midfielder and former Leeds United favourite Kalvin Phillips in the summer.
According to Give Me Sport journalist Paul Brown, the Hammers will certainly ask the question but City are unlikely to sell him once the window reopens in the summer.
Phillips has struggled since leaving Leeds as he’s battled multiple injuries and has even been called out publicly by manager Pep Guardiola.
Brown said, “I’m sure they’ll ask the question, but I don’t think Kalvin Phillips wants to leave Man City.
“He’s not really made a success of that yet and he’s clearly determined to do so. I also don’t think that Man City, having paid what they did for him, would be willing to let him go.
“I think something would have to go badly wrong there for Kalvin Phillips to become available.”
Good signing if fit
Phillips was incredible for Leeds and even at the EUROs he built a solid understanding with Declan Rice at the heart of England’s midfield.
At the World Cup, he often replaced Rice to play an identical role and did really well there.
With Rice very likely to leave for either Arsenal or Chelsea, it makes sense for the Hammers to think of someone to replace him.
A fit Phillips is ideal to replace the Hammers captain, but whether or not he can maintain his fitness for a long period of time, remains to be seen.
Guardiola even said that he was slightly overweight after returning from the World Cup, but then was impressed with the change he saw after a few weeks.
“He has the perfect body now – so sexy, Guardiola said via the Daily Mail. “He has spent the first part of the season out with surgery to arrive for the World Cup – and did everything to get to the World Cup.”
If Phillips does go on to impress from now until the end of the season, then this is a signing that the Hammers could consider.