Newcastle United have cooled their interest in Kalvin Phillips for now, as they are not ready to agree on Manchester City’s conditions.
According to The Telegraph, Newcastle United could abandon the pursuit of Kalvin Phillips due to Manchester City’s high financial demands. The Magpies hierarchy are unwilling to sanction a huge loan fee for the midfielder as well as agree to an obligation clause in the deal.
Newcastle United to abandon Kalvin Phillips’s pursuit?
Eddie Howe recently commented on Newcastle’s situation and inability to sign a player of Dominic Solanke’s level. Reports were stating the Magpies may have to sell one of their star players to make room for new ones and comply with FFP regulations.
The club have an extremely tight budget to play with in January, with Howe looking intently at a quality loan move. Newcastle has been in talks with Manchester City for the £45 million midfielder Kalvin Phillips for some time now.
Recently, they had fresh contacts with Manchester City, which probably indicated that the Magpies were intent on signing Phillips. Pep Guardiola’s side has repeatedly demanded a £7 million loan fee and a £40 million obligation clause.
The Newcastle hierarchy are not keen on paying a huge loan fee for five months and certainly are against the obligation clause. The Magpies are mindful of their spending and could have abandoned the Phillips chase. It’s not to say the deal is over, but for them to return to the table, Manchester City may have to budge with their demands.
Will Manchester City budge on their demands for Phillips?
Manchester City only signed Phillips 18 months ago for £45 million, but the former Leeds star has come nowhere close. With the midfielder eager to play regularly, the demands made by Guardiola’s side are proving difficult for the midfielder.
Manchester City believes clubs could come in with offers that match their demands. Tottenham are interested in Phillips and may view him as a replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Whether Manchester City sell him to Spurs remains the question.
As for Newcastle United, they appeared like the favourites for the £45 million midfielder, but now they are not overly keen to spend big on a temporary deal.
With the Magpies walking off, they are not the first to do so after heating Manchester City’s demands, as Juventus have also pulled out of the running. With Phillips keen, the Magpies might return to the table late in the window, as they will hope the midfielder is there until then.
