According to a report from The Standard, West Ham are nearing the completion of a loan deal to acquire Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips until the end of the season, marking a significant achievement for David Moyes.
Phillips, who is seeking consistent playing time in preparation for England’s European Championship campaign this summer, is set to depart the treble-winning Manchester City. Notably, he had garnered interest from other clubs such as Newcastle, Barcelona, and Juventus.
Phillips’ Struggles At Manchester City
Kalvin Phillips continues to encounter challenges in securing a consistent role within Pep Guardiola’s Etihad squad. The English midfielder has featured in only 10 matches across various competitions this season.
Despite his dedication, the 27-year-old often finds himself on the sidelines, leading to a somewhat restricted impact in the Premier League. His averages of 0.7 tackles, 0.3 interceptions, and 0.7 successful dribbles per game in the league highlight his limited playing time. Nevertheless, his notable strength lies in midfield distribution, exemplified by an impressive 90% pass completion rate in England’s top flight (statistics obtained from whoscored).
Is He A Decent Fit For The Hammers?
Phillips demonstrates proficiency in tackling and can make crucial interceptions when consistently playing on the field. He is willing to clear the danger when necessary and excels as a precise passer.
As a holding midfielder, Phillips is versatile enough to also fill in as a center-back or a box-to-box midfielder when required. His powerful and accurate long-range shots add an additional dimension to his skill set.
West Ham can anticipate Phillips bringing more aggression and resilience to David Moyes’ midfield. At 28, he is currently in his prime and has the potential to make an immediate impact at the London Stadium if a loan deal is completed this January. The East London club should make efforts to secure Phillips, as he could significantly contribute to their performance this season.
Conversely, Manchester City could consider permanently selling Phillips to West Ham at the end of the season, allowing them to generate necessary funds and find a suitable replacement for their midfield department.
