'I don’t know what will happen' - Pep Guardiola responds to Kalvin Phillips exit rumours
Phillips has struggled to nail down a starting berth in Guardiola's side since his move from Leeds last year
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he “doesn’t know what will happen” with Kalvin Phillips amid reported interest from Newcastle, West Ham and Bayern Munich.
The England international has struggled to get regular game time at the Etihad since joining City in a £45 million deal from Leeds in the summer of 2022.
Phillips stayed put over the summer despite speculation over his future, but he has since made just three substitute appearances this season.
A report in The Sun says Newcastle want to bring in the midfielder on loan in January to cover for the potential absence of Sandro Tonali, if the Italian receives a betting ban from an ongoing investigation.
West Ham and Bayern have also been credited with an interest in the 27-year-old, who remains a part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad and started in the 3-1 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Italy on Tuesday.
Guardiola was questioned about the future of Phillips during a press conference on the eve of his side’s Premier League clash with Brighton.
“[It’s] not a conversation I’ve had. Transfer window is over, we are here together,” Guardiola said.
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"When we need a game when it’s transitions or something with chaos, Kalvin is perfect.
“Until winter he will be here and after I don’t know what will happen with Kalvin, with more or any players."
Phillips has a contract until June 2028 with City and is valued by Transfermarkt at £24 million.
He has made 26 appearances for City since joining last year from his boyhood club Leeds.
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Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.