Kalvin Phillips is ready to reject Aston Villa’s interest and stay at Manchester City to fight for his place under Pep Guardiola.
Football Insider believes Aston Villa could face rejection in pursuing Kalvin Phillips. The Midlands club were keen on the 27-year-old Manchester City star but may have to look at other targets as Unai Emery seeks a midfield controller for next season.
When media reports linking Aston Villa with a move for Kalvin Phillips emerged, it seemed the perfect match for both parties. The Midlands club have progressed well under Unai Emery, who could have made do with a solid midfield controller like the 27-year-old Manchester City star.
Considering how far Phillips has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad, one may have assumed the midfielder could have come on the cheap. Manchester City paid around £45 million to sign him on a six-year deal, but so far, the former Leeds man has failed to convince Pep Guardiola of his quality.
With Aston Villa keen to sign Phillips, the suggestion is that the midfielder would prefer to remain at Manchester City. He desires to fight for his place and make an opening in this team for next season. This time, he continues to linger on the periphery of the first-team squad.
The 27-year-old Manchester City star has made 17 appearances in all competitions, accumulating only 405 minutes. Those are terrible numbers for a midfielder of Phillips’s calibre, who remains a firm member of the England setup.
Emery remains eager to sign a midfield controller for next season. While Phillips would have fit the requirement, other players are on Villa’s radar. Real Sociedad pair Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino emerged on their shortlist, but realistically, the club could still sign one of them.
There are also links to Fulham’s Joao Palhinha, as Aston Villa are reportedly willing to pay around £60 million for the Portuguese enforcer. Considering the price some of those targets will cost, Phillips would have come on the cheap.
However, Villa will face rejection in pursuing the 27-year-old Manchester City star. Whether Phillips breaks into this side under Guardiola remains the big question ahead of the new season. If he fails in that quest, it might be seen as another season wasted at the peak of the midfielder’s powers.
