Manchester City and Leeds United have reached an agreement for midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to David Ornstein.
Phillips is closing in on a move to the Etihad Stadium for a fee reported to be around £42 million plus add-ons, which could be completed when the player returns for preseason at the start of July.
🚨 EXCL: Man City have reached agreement with Leeds to sign midfielder Kalvin Phillips. £42m + £3m — with Darko Gyabi joining #LUFC separately for £5m fixed. Clubs now in process of finalising deal for 26yo England int’l to join #MCFC @TheAthleticUK #LUFC https://t.co/i25RND4Ad5
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) June 24, 2022
Kalvin Phillips Close to Signing for Manchester City
It Has Been Coming
Kalvin Phillips has been on Manchester City’s radar for a while and Leeds have grown to accept that they might lose their star player this summer. The Yorkshireman has never pushed for a move away from his boyhood club but he’s reportedly interested in linking up with Pep Guardiola and the Premier League champions.
Both clubs have been busy in the transfer window so far, with City looking to build on the success of winning four out of the last five Premier Leagues and Leeds looking to facilitate their new manager Jesse Marsch’s ideas for the squad.
Read More: No Bid for Manchester City Forward From Tottenham Hotspur
The fee that Leeds receive for Phillips will go a long way to helping Marsch in strengthening a squad that failed to reach the heights of their first season back in the top flight after 16 years. The first of the signings the money may be used for could well be a Manchester City midfielder, Darko Gyabi, in a deal for £5 million.
Leeds have already signed another midfielder this summer, coincidentally a player from Guardiola’s previous club Bayern Munich, Marc Roca for around £10 million. They’re also interested in Tyler Adams, who played under Marsch for New York Red Bulls.
Manchester City have reached verbal agreement with Leeds to sign Kalvin Phillips on permanent deal, as per @David_Ornstein. Talks at final stages. 🚨🔵 #MCFC
Leeds will receive £42m guaranteed fee plus add-ons. Work in progress on player’s contract. Next top target: Cucurella. pic.twitter.com/I2e5jwLPff
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 24, 2022
Phillips’ Role at City
Devout servant and one of the best players of this era, Fernandinho, left Manchester City at the end of the season. A player that’s almost impossible to replace, but Phillips will be brought in to strengthen the options Guardiola has to anchor his midfield alongside the ever-present Rodri.
Phillips would bring his all-action style to the Citizens’ midfield, a much different profile to the Spaniard who currently holds down that position. The England international will hope to rediscover, and build from, the form he found under Marcelo Bielsa – who Guardiola regards as the best coach in the world.
Read More: Every Premier League Transfer Completed in Summer 2022
With the Qatar World Cup coming up in the winter, Phillips will look to improve even further after cementing himself as a member of Gareth Southgate’s England squad. He put in some excellent performances since breaking into the squad, including during Euro 2020, and may grow to become a key player in the near future.
