Manchester City offer first-team star to Premier League clubs as season-loan move targeted

Premier League champions Manchester City are reportedly open to the idea of sending Kalvin Phillips out on loan for the 2023/24 season.

Phillips joined Manchester City from Leeds United in the summer of 2022 off the back of a stellar career at Elland Road, signing for the Premier League champions in an initial £42 million deal.

However, following a string of frustrating injuries and surgery to a shoulder problem, Kalvin Phillips life at the Etihad Stadium has been far from straight forward, seeing him limited to just 21 appearances across all competitions since last year.

With Rodri showing no signs of slowing, and Mateo Kovacic starting life after joining Chelsea in impeccable fashion, Manchester City currently have no clear path for Phillips to gain consistent game-time in Pep Guardiola’s squad.

As such, new reports have detailed the plans that are being put into place from within the offices of the City Football Academy to attempt to revive Phillips’ career at the Etihad Stadium, and hopefully bring him back as a new star for the 2024/25 season.

That is according to the information of Alan Nixon, who states that City are now willing to loan Kalvin Phillips for the duration of the now-ongoing campaign in a bid to get the England international’s career back on track after a disappointing start to life at the Etihad Stadium.

The belief within Manchester City, according to the report, is that the Treble winners feel they can do without Phillips for a season in the hope he can re-invent himself and return to the club as the midfielder they signed from Leeds United 12 months ago.

It is further revealed that Phillips has been offered to various Premier League clubs, and could even interest some teams in Europe. With regards to recent suggestions that Liverpool may be interested, Nixon reports that Anfield officials are yet to commit and may feel they have enough in that area of their squad.

There is an understanding some quarters that Manchester City remain insistent on signing a new name in the centre of the park this summer, especially following the long-term injury sustained by Kevin De Bruyne this month.

While Lucas Paqueta was understood to have been the club’s number one choice, and an £80 million deal was close to being agreed, the Brazilian’s ongoing FA investigation stalled negotiations and led to a total collapse on any potential transfer.

Florian Wirtz and Dani Olmo are two other names that hold admirers within the Etihad Stadium, however their respective price tags are expected to be problematic in the weeks that remain in the ongoing summer market.