Manchester City and Pep Guardiola open to selling first-team midfielder as Declan Rice pursuit intensifies

Manchester City are open to letting Kalvin Phillips leave in the summer as they consider an approach for West Ham’s Declan Rice, as per reports.

The European champions are set for a busy transfer window that is likely to see significant changes made to Pep Guardiola’s squad after a historic, treble-winning campaign.

City are understood to be in the market for a central defender as Aymeric Laporte eyes an exit as well as atleast one full-back, with Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo expected to depart the club permanently ahead of the new season.

Ilkay Gundogan has been offered an improved contract offer at the Etihad Stadium following his heroics in Manchester City’s Premier League and Champions League run-in.

The German is entering the final weeks of his current deal at the club and has attracted interest from Spain and Saudi Arabia, with City fans desperate for the club captain to put pen to paper and commit his future to the seven-time Premier League champions.

Bernardo Silva, once again, has been at the forefront of the rumour mill and Paris Saint-Germain have this week seen a player-plus-cash offer rejected for the 28-year-old, who is keen on a new challenge as he weighs up his options elsewhere.

Kalvin Phillips has endured a frustrating, injury-ridden debut season in sky blue that has raised doubts over whether he can be trusted to be Rodri’s understudy at the heart of midfield.

The Leeds-born midfielder, who joined Manchester City for £45 million on a six-year contract last summer, made 21 club appearances across all competitions this season, clocking 593 minutes of action, with just 290 of those coming in the Premier League.

West Ham and Newcastle have been credited with an interest in the 27-year-old, though Phillips is understood to be intent on staying put and fighting for a first-team place.

As per Sam Lee of The Athletic, City are open to sanctioning a sale for Phillips though the England international is intent on battling for minutes in his second season in Manchester.

Several Premier League sides have seen offers turned down for Phillips, who looks set to stay at City into the new campaign.

Manchester City are expected to complete the signing of Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea if a fee can be agreed between the clubs in the coming days.

However, it is worth stating that the treble winners have entered the race to sign West Ham skipper Declan Rice, who is likely to depart the Hammers amid interest from Arsenal, which could have implications on Phillips’ future at the Etihad Stadium.