Manchester City have identified Leeds United superstar Kalvin Phillips his priority transfer target next summer as Pep Guardiola eyes midfield reinforcements.
According to an exclusive report from Fichajes, Manchester City have joined the race to sign Kalvin Phillips. The Leeds United midfielder has emerged as a priority option for Pep Guardiola, who is determined to sign a long-term replacement for the ageing Fernandinho next summer.
Manchester City do already have Rodri at their disposal, but the former Atletico Madrid will be left as the only option as Fernandinho is in the final year of his contract. It has accentuated the need for a new holding midfielder who can be utilised as a rotating option for Guardiola’s midfield unit next season.
Phillips has unsurprisingly caught the attention, having enjoyed immense success since Leeds United’s promotion to the Premier League. He was even voted as England’s Player of the Year last season and is seemingly becoming an undisputed regular in Gareth Southgate’s squad that has already achieved a lot of success in recent years.
Manchester City won’t be the only club interested in Phillips, though. Earlier this summer, Real Madrid had expressed an interest in signing the 25-year-old Yorkshire lad and they might come back for him next summer, despite snapping up Eduardo Camavinga on deadline day.
Manchester United, too, are believed to be in the hunt for a defensive midfielder. The two clubs are already tussling with each other in the pursuit of another in-demand England number six in Declan Rice.
Phillips, too, represents a similar level of quality and has the potential to become an asset for any top club in England. One would imagine he would be favoured more by Guardiola due to his superiority when it comes to offering diagonal balls forward. He is also much more adept in moving forward and creating chances in the final third.
However, the Englishman is certain to cost a fortune, having established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League. Fortunately for Man City, they have no shortage of options and have been recently linked with a move for another exciting English talent in Jude Bellingham.
The Borussia Dortmund whizkid is already a star sensation in the Bundesliga, though the Citizens could once again face stiff competition from rivals. Not to mention, Bellingham could cost significantly more than Phillips due to his age and higher ceiling that make the former Birmingham prodigy one of the talented young players in world football.
