28 October 2023 , 18:30
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Manchester City want to make a profit on Kalvin Phillips - despite the England midfielder starting just five games in his 15 months at the Etihad.
The Premier League champions are aware that there's a host of clubs interested in signing the former Leeds favourite when the transfer window opens in January and have set an asking price of £50million. That’s a healthy £8million mark-up on the £42million City paid the Yorkshire club in the summer of 2022.
City are ruthless negotiators in the transfer market. They were prepared to allow Phillips to leave for less than £40million in the summer when West Ham registered an interest.
But the player told Etihad chiefs that he still wanted to prove to Pep Guardiola that he could do a job for the Treble winners. However, now City want to cash in on the scramble for his signature.
Three of Phillips’ appearances this season have been for England and he failed to impress Guardiola when midfield lynchpin Rodri was suspended recently.
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Phillips is now ready to move on in a bid to protect his place in Gareth Southgate ’s squad for next summer’s European Championships.
Newcastle are circling after losing £55million signing Sandro Tonali for 10 months after the Italian admitted breaking gambling regulations in his home country. Meeting City’s asking price will not be a problem for the Toon.
But Newcastle face competition from Liverpool, Juventus, West Ham and Aston Villa for a player who will turn 28 in December.
Phillips has made just 25 appearances for City and only two of his starts have been in the Premier League.