Premier League title rivals consider January move for £45 million Manchester City midfielder

Tottenham Hotspur have retained interest in Kalvin Phillips ahead of the January transfer window. 

The former Leeds United star has failed to live up to his £42.5 million price tag since joining Manchester City in the summer of 2022. 

With the six months of his City career curtailed by fitness issues, the England international struggled to work his way into the midfield rotation for Pep Guardiola. 

With the recent three-game ban for Rodri after his red card against Nottingham Forest in September, Phillips found himself thrust into the team in what he called ‘the biggest week’ in his Manchester City career so far.

But average performances in losses to Wolves and Newcastle in the Premier League and Carabao Cup respectively, have seen Phillips fall back down in the midfield pecking order. 

As a result, the 27-year-old could look for a move away from the Etihad to reignite his career and force his way into Gareth Southgate’s EURO 2024 squad after being a mainstay between 2020-2022. 

And according to FootballTransfers, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is looking to strengthen his squad after a superb start to the new season, with the ambition of ‘continuing on the trajectory’.

A number of Premier League clubs are said to be keeping tabs on Phillips, with some reports suggesting that Everton and Newcastle are among the interested teams.

The additions of Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes in the summer did not help Phillips’ cause, as the two newcomers are reportedly seen as viable options to cover for Rodri in the holding midfield position – the role Phillips was signed to play. 

The midfielder’s chances of leaving the Etihad in the winter were reportedly boosted when he was an unused substitute in City’s 1-0 loss away to Arsenal last weekend, despite being without Rodri. 

While the clubs begin to circle, Phillips does have a history of shutting down any move away from City, having been adamant that he wants to remain with the team and fight for his place in the squad. 

City Xtra exclusively revealed during the summer that over 15 European clubs enquired about signing the 27-year-old.

With a solid start to the campaign, City sit two points off of the top of the Premier League and a perfect two wins from two in the Champions League.