Manchester City 'open to cut-price summer sale of international midfielder'

The 28-year-old was reduced to just five starts and 26 substitute outings in all competitions during his first 18 months at the Etihad Stadium before joining West Ham United on loan in January.

Phillips was hoping to further his career by becoming a first-team regular with the Citizens following his £42m switch from boyhood club Leeds United, but he admitted earlier this year that he felt «useless» under Pep Guardiola.

In a bid to reignite his career, Phillips planned to gain regular first-team football at West Ham in the second half of this season, but he has struggled to reach the heights expected at the London Stadium and has subsequently lost his place in the England squad ahead of Euro 2024.

Phillips has failed to impress across three starts and five substitute outings for the Hammers, most recently giving away a second-half penalty not long after coming off the bench in a 4-3 defeat at Newcastle United last weekend.

Phillips's performances have led to widespread criticism from the West Ham fanbase, and the midfielder was captured giving a middle-finger gesture towards a small group of unhappy supporters as he boarded the team bus following the defeat at Newcastle.

West Ham manager David Moyes has refused to condemn Phillips's actions and has instead encouraged the club's supporters to get behind the under-fire midfielder.

«Kalvin's a human being and can do things which we all do at difficult times,» the Scotsman told reporters ahead of West Ham's encounter with Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday.

«What he needs is support behind him,