Daily Star reporter Paul Brown has told Give Me Sport that Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips does not want to leave The Etihad in the summer – amid reports of a Leeds United enquiry in January, and possibility of a summer exit.
Phillips, 27, has managed just eight appearances since he joined Manchester City for a fee of £45m last summer. Injury has hampered his progess. Now fit, he remains back-up to Spain star Rodri. It has not been a good start to life at City.
On deadline day, The Sun claim that Leeds, West Ham and Everton made enquiries to land the England man on loan. Nothing came of it. Phillips has remained at Manchester City. It would have seen him back at Leeds after six months.
Then, The Athletic reported after the deadline that there are murmurs at The Etihad, that Phillips could leave City in the summer. But now. Brown has given his insight – stating Phillips’ stance; Phillips does not want to leave Manchester City.
“I’m sure they’ll [West Ham] ask the question, but I don’t think Kalvin Phillips wants to leave Man City. He’s not really made a success of that yet and he’s clearly determined to do so. I don’t think Man City would be willing to let him go.”
Brown: Phillips doesn’t want to leave Manchester City amid Leeds reports
Now, the idea of Phillips returning to Leeds at some point in the future is conceivable. But at this early stage? It seems unlikely. As Brown says, City paid a decent fee for him – and Phillips made a big decision to go. More time is needed.
Whether or not Phillips will be given the time and platform to turn his City nightmare into a success, is another debate. With Rodri easily first choice, Phillips has a whole lot to do to convince Pep Guardiola to give him more City game time.
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