BARCELONA
How much will Barcelona have to pay to sign Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City?
The England international has struggled for game time at the Premier League and Champions League holders but is wanted by Barça.
It’s no secret that Kalvin Phillips’ days at Manchester City are numbered. The Premier League and Champions League holders are actively looking to move on the midfielder, who isn’t part of Pep Guardiola’s plans. So far, they have been unable to find any takers and recent speculation suggests he could be set to go out on loan. According to The Guardian, however, City are looking for a sizeable fee from potential suitors just to take the 28-year-old until the end of the season.
Manchester City demand loan fee for Phillips
“Clubs hoping to sign Kalvin Phillips are waiting for Manchester City to drop their demands for a £7m ($8.88 million) loan fee. Crystal Palace, Newcastle and West Ham are tracking the midfielder, while there is also interest from Barcelona, Atlético Madrid and Juventus,” they reported.
Barcelona are known to be keen to strengthen their midfield in the January transfer window, with sporting director Deco desperately hoping to bring a new face in following Oriol Romeu’s struggles since rejoining the club. Phillips is the former Portugal international’s main target and La Blaugrana will make every effort to take him to Catalonia, although they know it won’t be straightforward.
Pep Guardiola “regrets” not playing England midfielder
Barça’s hope is that City will lower their demands and an agreement for a loan move will be reached sooner rather than later. Phillips, who has been capped 31 times by England and was a regular in the team that reached the Euro 2020 final, joined City for a fee of £42 million ($53.26 million) in the summer of 2022 from Leeds United but has only started six games for the club.
“I don’t know what will happen to Kalvin Phillips. He has a good personality, I regret not having played him,” Guardiola said just a few weeks ago. In 2023-24, the midfielder has made only four substitute appearances in the Premier League and started one game apiece in the Champions League and the Carabao Cup.
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