West Ham United transfer news: Sources share £165k-per-week ‘problem’ as Kalvin Phillips deal agreed at London Stadium
Kalvin Phillips’ loan deal to West Ham United from Manchester City has no permanent option attached to it, according to Claret & Hugh.
David Ornstein reported on Tuesday afternoon that both clubs have now agreed a deal to take Kalvin Phillips to the London Stadium on loan with the England international set to undergo a medical within the next 48 hours.
The reliable Hammers journalists shared on their website (23 January) that Phillips would have to take a wage cut if the Hammers were to agree to a permanent deal at the end of his loan at the London Stadium.
An inside source at West Ham has confirmed to Claret & Hugh that the club cannot afford Philipps’ wages and it is a “problem” due to the cap on the percentage of wages to turnover both in the Premier League and in Europe which has to reduce every season.
Big deal
As much as this transfer may feel like a major coup for West Ham United given Phillips’ quality and experience both at club and international level, it is a transfer that could have repercussions on the Hammers’ wage structure.
A loan deal for the Englishman makes perfect sense for all parties involved but it remains to be seen whether he will play again for Manchester City which means he will leave permanently before next season begins.
Whether that’s at West Ham remains to be seen and should Phillips go on to enjoy his loan spell at the London Stadium for the remainder of the season, it won’t be plain sailing in sealing a permanent move.
Phillips’ £165k-a-week wages are astronomical and are figures that the Hammers simply cannot reach given the FFP situation and salary cap at clubs outside the top six.
If the former Leeds United midfielder was to join the club permanently next season, he will seriously need to consider a wage cut but Phillips doesn’t seem a like a player who would turn down such an opportunity just because he’d be on smaller wages.
Right now, the Englishman needs to be playing football and the chance to prove himself at the highest level and more crucially prove to England manager Gareth Southgate that he still remains a crucial midfield figure ahead of Euro 2024 in June.
At this moment in time, any talk of a permanent transfer will have to wait until May at least. Phillips just needs to focus on having a brilliant five months in East London.
In other West Ham news, the stance of another Premier League player who has been linked with the club has been revealed.
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