Manchester City are reportedly eyeing Kalvin Philipps as one of the candidates to replace Fernandinho, who will leave the club in the summer.
According to Fichajes, Kalvin Phillips has emerged on Manchester City’s shortlist of potential replacements for Fernandinho. The Brazilian international will leave the club in the summer, and Pep Guardiola will eye a long-term option to fill the void of the veteran midfielder.
David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure have all been considered legends following their more flashy displays over the years for Manchester City, winning numerous titles along the way. One player who has been equally effective and tremendous in the team’s rise in stature has been Fernandinho.
Fernandinho has won four Premier League titles and is on course for a fifth domestic crown if Manchester City can keep their lead on top of the table. The Brazilian midfielder announced that he will leave the Etihad in the summerahead 0f City’s UEFA Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, which took Pep Guardiola by surprise.
At 36, Fernandinho continues to perform at a high level in the central midfield role, playing a key role in several games this season. However, his loss will have to be treated with caution as the club would need a viable replacement for the Brazilian.
Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:’qDqwAFqCSLxiElQ0uYihcA’,sig:’1Y_Xo3aDFfQRsteunUQUfLAv0VgBMSUzlizHWoMJBs0=’,w:’594px’,h:’396px’,items:’1390495531′,caption: true ,tld:’com’,is360: false })});
There are options mentioned in the report, including Mikel Merino and even experienced star Toni Kroos. However, one big domestic name on the list is that of Kalvin Phillips, who continues to attract plenty of interest from several Premier League bigwigs.
Phillips has a massive decision to make in the summer, for calls to remain at Leeds United have been made repeatedly. The 26-year-old English international is reportedly keen on signing a new deal, but this could be dependent on the interest he receives in the summer.
Manchester United are thought to be keeping tabs on his situation, although his long-term allegiance with Leeds United may prevent such a move from transpiring. However, he could weigh in on the interest from Manchester City, depending on what role he could play in the team.
It is clear how Guardiola likes to play with his midfielders. Stylistically, there is only room for one holding midfielder, and Manchester City already have Rodri as the undisputed first choice in the position. However, the Leeds talisman can introduce a different style of play and possesses more versatility than the established Spaniard.
Stylistically, Phillips fits Guardiola’s system, although the possibility regular game time will play a big role in the 26-year-old English international’s decision to join Manchester City. The Premier League champions may have to shell out more than £60 million to secure the services of the Leeds midfielder, which may not pose huge problems for them.
