Kalvin Phillips can leave Man City in January as Pep Guardiola gives go-ahead in private

EXCLUSIVE: Kalvin Phillips' miserable time at Manchester City looks set to come to an end in January after Pep Guardiola gave the go-ahead for him to leave

Posted Sunday, October 22, 2023 by Dailystar.co.uk

Manchester City will allow Kalvin Phillips to leave the club in the January transfer window.

Despite Pep Guardiola's vague response on Friday to questions about unsettled Phillips, the Premier League champions are ready to listen to offers for the England international. Newcastle, West Ham and German giants Bayern Munich are all interested in the central midfielder as he continues to kick his heels on City's bench.

Phillips, 27, admitted on England duty this month he is desperate to get more game time at club level and may have to quit the Etihad in order to stay in Gareth Southgate's side at the Euros next summer. And while publicly Guardiola says he wants him to stay, privately he has told City's hierarchy to let him depart in the New Year.

The Treble holders will even consider loaning him out for the rest of the season - on two conditions. Whoever lands the former Leeds man must agree to pay his £150,000-a-week wages in full - and then make it a permanent transfer in July.

Phillips won his 30th England cap in the victory over Italy on Tuesday - that's exactly double his number of league appearances for City (before Brighton today) since his £42million arrival 16 months ago.

The fact that all but two of those have been as a substitute, normally late on in games, has only compounded his frustration. Even with Kevin de Bruyne out injured since the opening day of the campaign, Phillips has been unable to force his way into Guardiola's starting eleven

Belgium ace De Bruyne is to return in December for the World Club Cup in Saudi Arabia, meaning that situation is unlikely to improve any time soon. Hence, Phillips' determination to show his qualities elsewhere - and City's apparent willingness to pave the way for his exit.