Arsenal duo Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus are reportedly preventing Manchester City from sanctioning a deal for Liverpool to sign Kalvin Phillips in January. Liverpool are strongly interested in a potential loan move for City outcast Phillips to strengthen Jurgen Klopp’s midfield options.
Liverpool signed four midfielders in a major overhaul during the summer transfer window but could do with stronger depth in the No 6 position. Endo Wataru was signed from Stuttgart but Liverpool are yet to properly replace Fabinho, who joined Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad.
Phillips has been identified as a possible target but Liverpool face vast competition for the England international’s signature. Newcastle, Tottenham and Aston Villa have also been linked with the 28-year-old.
Liverpool could face an uphill battle to sign Phillips, though, with City learning from past mistakes. Sanctioning transfers for Zinchenko and Jesus to join Arsenal in the summer of 2022 could have cost Guardiola the Premier League title last term.
According to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, speaking to Give Me Sport, City are unlikely to allow their players to leave for another Premier League title contender. Allowing Phillips to leave and improve Liverpool’s midfield could hand an advantage to the Reds in the race for the top-flight trophy.
Phillips has played just 416 minutes in the Premier League since joining City from Leeds in the summer of 2022. Guardiola has admitted that the midfielder might need to depart in search of more game time.
With Euro 2024 approaching, Phillips will be seeking to consolidate his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad. The emergence of Conor Gallagher and other midfielders as genuine options to take Phillips’ place alongside Declan Rice in the Three Lions’ midfield will be a cause for concern.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Newcastle are ‘confident’ of beating Liverpool and the rest of their competition to the signing of Phillips in January. The Magpies reportedly hope that a loan deal can be agreed in the early parts of the January transfer window.
Newcastle’s January dealings are set to be limited by Financial Fair Play restrictions, making loans likelier. Phillips fits the mould of the type of midfielder Eddie Howe wants to bring into his squad.
Howe’s side have hit a tough period of form, losing six of their last seven matches. An injury crisis has prompted a dip in form and the club could turn to Phillips to strengthen their midfield options.
