Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images
Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images
Many changes will take place at Manchester City this summer.
Pep Guardiola’s side endured a very tough season, going the entire season without a trophy and in an attempt to avoid the same outcome next term, Man City plan to add four or five new faces to their squad.
A revamp of City’s midfield is at the heart of Guardiola’s rebuild, with Tijjani Reijnders very close to joining from AC Milan, while Rayan Cherki has now agreed personal terms with the Premier League club.
With the two stars set to arrive at the Manchester club over the coming weeks, exits are likely in order to create space in Guardiola’s squad, and according to Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski, everyone wants to see one Man City star sold ahead of the new season.
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
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Man City would accept just £10m for Kalvin Phillips
Man City very rarely make mistakes when it comes to the transfer window, but it is fair to say the £45m transfer of Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United in 2022 was a disaster.
The Englishman barely played for the Manchester club during his time at the Etihad Stadium, and has even failed to impress during his two recent loan spells with West Ham and Ipswich Town.
According to Bajkowski, the Man City journalist has stated that everyone associated with Phillips wants to see the 29-year-old sold this summer, but not many clubs will be willing to take a gamble on the player, with Leeds one of the interested parties.
“Everyone would love a sale just so all sides can move on from what has been a disastrous move, but it will depend on whether buying clubs are prepared to take a gamble on a player who simply hasn’t been anywhere near the level he needs to be for the last three years,” Bajkowski told LeedsLive.
“City wouldn’t want or expect a big fee for him, but in today’s environment where everyone is obsessed with PSR, even £10m or £15m could be seen as more than people are willing to risk.”
Eddie Gray thinks Phillips is not good enough for Leeds anymore, which is how many associated with the Yorkshire club will be thinking; therefore, the Englishman needs to fix many things before securing a move away from Man City ahead of the new season.
Photo by Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Photo by Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/Getty Images
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What Kalvin Phillips needs to do to secure Man City exit
There are many obstacles standing between Phillips and a Man City exit, such as his wages and injury record, with the 29-year-old currently out with an Achilles issue.
Bajkowski admits Phillips will have to take a significant cut to join a new club this summer, while his current injury will turn off potential suitors.
“That depends on Phillips if it is a sale. If he wants to get playing regularly again, he needs to take a wage that will allow him to do that even if it is a significant cut,” the Man City journalist said.
“The problem City have is that, if there are no bidders for most of the summer with him being injured, any interested club could wait until close to the deadline and then press for City to take as much of his wages as possible in a loan just so a move is completed.”
This is a sad situation Phillips has found himself in, as the midfielder was incredible during his time at Leeds.
This next move is crucial for the 29-year-old’s career, as it will set up how the rest of it plays out and at what level.