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West Ham United can make move for Kalvin Phillips to replace Declan Rice if bombshell exit happens
West Ham United must reignite their interest in Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips after it was reported on 29 January 2022 that the club made an “astonishing bid” for the then-Leeds maestro.
The inevitable Rice departure seems to be nearing ever closer after transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claimed that he is expected to leave West Ham in 2023.
Now, the Irons must reignite their interest in an out-of-favour replacement for Rice who the Evening Standard claimed was the subject of a £50m bid from the London outfit.
“West Ham have launched an astonishing £50million move for Leeds United and England midfielder, Kalvin Phillips.,” as quoted by the Evening Standard (29 January 2022).
Now, since this apparent bid, Phillips moved to Manchester City this past summer, evidently snubbing a switch to London to play for Pep Guardiola’s Citizens.
But all is not lost, the Englishman looks surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium and may choose to look elsewhere for some guaranteed playing time.
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If Rice left the London Stadium, the Hammers could ultimately provide this.
Readymade.
Now, whether the Hammers’ interest in Phillips last January was concrete or not is definitely up for debate and no ones denying that, but is there arguably a better replacement for Rice on the market right now?
If West Ham United are serious about moving forward and progressing after a Rice sale, a move for the out-of-favour Phillips makes a lot of sense.
He is literally a readymade replacement for Rice and could fill the massive boots left by the West Ham United captain should he leave the club in 2023.
A fit and firing Phillips is a formidable force, something that he showed briefly in his cameo for England against Wales in the FIFA World Cup on 29 November 2022.
The 26-year-old provided a delicious delicate pass to Marcus Rashford for England’s third goal on the night, an aspect of his game that would make the Hammers midfield terrifying.
Combine Phillips’ acute passing precision with Lucas Paqueta’s Brazilian magic and it’s hard not to see Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca not feasting at will.
Okay, maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves on this one, but the club should aim high in finding a replacement for Rice and they don’t come much better than Phillips.