West Ham surely given Kalvin Phillips opportunity after Pep Guardiola ‘so sorry’ admission at Manchester City
One thing seems certain about Kalvin Phillips and that is he is surely going to leave Manchester City in the January transfer window, leaving an opportunity West Ham absolutely should be seizing.
The England midfielder has just one start to his name his season, that coming in City’s League Cup defeat to Newcastle United, and even with Rodri suspended for the midweek defeat to Aston Villa he couldn’t get in the team.
Guardiola was once again asked about Phillips at a news conference on Friday (8 December) and he hinted that his future does lie away from the Etihad Stadium, even if he rates his professionalism.
“I don’t know what will happen (in the January transfer window). I feel so sorry for my decisions for him, I said many times. He doesn’t deserve not to give him minutes. I ask for good personality, good character, thinking about the end. (He) is a perfect example,” Guardiola said in quotes reported by the Athletic (8 December).
“After that I have to give him something, I didn’t do that. It’s just because I visualise something, I visualise the team and I struggle a little bit to see him, that’s all. It’s not because I am not pleased. I feel so sorry for him.
“When a young guy behaves (badly), I don’t care. The way he behaves with his mates, I care. Hopefully, he can turn around and I have said many times, I don’t know what will happen in January.
“If he stays I am more than pleased because he trains really good and he is a lovely guy.”
It was reported by 90.min (1 December) that the Hammers were one of the teams to have enquired about Phillips’ availability in January.
There is clearly a great opportunity here now to pounce. Phillips may have found game time hard to come by, but he is an England regular and will be chomping at the bit to perform and prove he deserves to be in the Three Lions’ squad for Euro 2024.
From that point of view, it is a no-brainer for a West Ham side who have ambitions to finish in the European qualification spots in the Premier League, and to challenge for Europa League glory.
West Ham are already pretty well stocked in the centre of midfield but Phillips would undoubtedly add a layer of quality to proceedings at the London Stadium.
In other West Ham news, one journalist has shared what a “furious” Dejan Kulusevski did after the Hammers defeated Tottenham.