Kalvin Phillips 'set to leave Manchester City amid Newcastle United, Everton links'
The 27-year-old has endured a difficult 15 months at the Etihad Stadium since joining from Leeds United in July 2022, starting just five of his 26 appearances for the Citizens across all tournaments.
Injuries and the exceptional form of fellow midfield lynchpin Rodri were two main factors that prevented Phillips from establishing himself as a first-team regular last season.
Many would have thought that Phillips would be given a chance in the starting lineup by Pep Guardiola when Rodri received a three-match domestic ban for violent conduct last month; the England international played the full 90 minutes in a EFL Cup defeat to Newcastle but returned to the substitutes' bench for fixtures against RB Leipzig, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal.
Guardiola has instead turned to summer signing Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes to play in centre-midfield, as well as 18-year-old versatile full-back Rico Lewis, while Bernardo Silva played in a deeper role alongside Lewis in the defeat to Arsenal last weekend.
Phillips still has five years remaining on his contract at the Etihad, but he is now facing an uncertain future having fallen even further down the pecking order under Guardiola.
According to The i, Man City were open to letting Phillips leave this summer, only for the midfielder the express his desire to stay and fight for his place, but a January exit from the treble winners is now increasingly likely for the Englishman.
The report adds that that most likely outcome would be a loan move in the winter window when there will be «plenty of interest» in his services.
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