According to a report from Manchester Evening News, Manchester City seem to be keeping the possibility open for Kalvin Phillips to leave before the upcoming Friday’s transfer window closure.
The midfielder has encountered challenges in securing playing time, and manager Pep Guardiola’s expectations regarding his performance are reported to have been less than impressive. Although the player is determined to remain and compete for his position, the presence of Mateo Kovacic’s arrival, along with the potential addition of another midfielder, presents a greater challenge to his objective.
Phillips’ Disappointing First Season At Manchester City
Throughout his inaugural season at the Etihad Stadium, Phillips encountered difficulties securing a consistent spot in Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup, resulting in infrequent appearances in the Premier League. Despite his proven abilities from his time at Leeds United, he managed a mere 21 games for Manchester City across various competitions.
His participation mostly occurred as a substitute, which accounts for his comparatively modest averages of 0.5 tackles, 0.4 interceptions, and 0.7 clearances per match in Premier League matches. Nevertheless, he deserves recognition for his accurate passing, as he achieved an impressive 92.6% success rate in completed passes in the top-flight English league (statistics via whoscored).
The English midfielder’s existing contract at the Etihad Stadium is set to run until the summer of 2028. As a result, potential suitors might have to pay a huge sum in order to acquire his services which has been off putting.
Should Guardiola Offer Him Another Chance This season?
Kalvin Phillips is a resilient and tenacious midfielder who is adept at winning back possession for his team. He is not afraid to put his body on the line to clear danger, and he also has good passing skills. Phillips is also a good playmaker, and he has the ability to initiate attacks for his teammates. However, he acknowledges that he needs to improve his offensive contributions in order to have a greater impact on the team’s scoring.
Phillips has faced some challenges during his time at Manchester City. He has been injured, and he has also struggled to establish himself as a consistent starter. These circumstances have led to questions about whether he is the best fit for City’s style of play. It remains to be seen whether the English midfielder is offered a deal from other potentially suitors like Liverpool who have been struggling in their pursuit of bringing in a midfielder in the past few weeks.
