Newcastle United target Kalvin Phillips is reportedly ready to “give up a multi-million-pound pay-off” to seal a move away from Manchester City in January.
According to The Sun, out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is keen to leave Manchester City and would be willing to forfeit his £17.5 million pay-off to depart Manchester City amid his links to Newcastle United.
Phillips was a sensational player for Leeds United during their ascent from the Championship to the Premier League, and he helped the Whites retain their top-flight status in successive seasons before earning his marquee £42 million move to the Etihad.
However, he has made only 26 appearances and started five times (twice in the Premier League) since. A number of niggling injuries have not helped Phillips’s cause either.
With Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, Rodri, John Stones (when used in midfield), and Rico Lewis all ahead of him in the pecking order, his total game time at club level this season has been restricted to just 167 minutes, with zero Premier League starts.
That is despite Rodri’s three-match ban in the Premier League for his cynical red card against Nottingham Forest earlier this season. The 27-year-old was linked with a summer exit in search of first-team football. But he understandably wanted to battle for a starting spot at City.
However, it seems Pep Guardiola does not really trust him. With the January transfer window opening for business in just 75 days, a crucial crossroad in Phillips’s career is now looming. And he knows that, while his place in the England squad does appear secure, at least for now, he needs regular game time to sharpen up his act and get his flailing career back on track after a long period of inactivity at Manchester City.
Philips signed a six-year deal until 2027. That is set to be cut short, however, with Manchester City keen to cut their losses and offload his £150,000-a-week wages. The Cityzens would like to recoup a fee close to the £42 million they paid for him from Leeds two seasons ago; a transfer might be possible.
They are also willing to consider loan offers if the prospective club covers his wages and commits to a purchase next summer. The Citizens are resigned to covering a substantial portion of the rest of his contract to facilitate a smooth exit. However, insiders at City claim that the player is prepared to accept approximately half of that amount to revive his career.
Newcastle, for one, are actively looking for cover for Sandro Tonali, who faces a lengthy ban in the aftermath of his involvement in a widely publicised Italian betting probe. The Magpies have begun the process of searching for potential January reinforcements and have reportedly met with the representatives of Phillips to sound out a potential move for the England international.
The Toon have been long-term admirers of Phillips. After all, he was one of the best-performing midfielders in the Premier League. But things have not gone according to plan at Manchester City.
Also Read: Three potential Sandro Tonali replacements for Newcastle United
Having said that, his £42 million price tag may be too steep for a club that spent a fortune on a marquee midfield signing this summer, that is if Manchester City demand such a sum. Surely, Newcastle would want to explore a potential loan with the option to buy a move first.
