Kalvin Phillips’ transfer hopes revealed ahead of summer market as Manchester City name price tag | OneFootball

Manchester City are willing to accept a significantly cut-price on Kalvin Phillips this summer in comparison to the fee they paid for the Englishman in 2022.

The England international has endured a hugely difficult time as a Manchester City player, largely failing to convince Pep Guardiola of his capabilities as a back-up option to the formidable Rodri in defensive midfield.

Phillips’ debut season may have ended in a historic Treble success at the Etihad Stadium, but a significant struggle to break into the starting line-up and falling entirely out of favour in the mind of Guardiola led to a loan spell in the season that followed.

Halfway through the campaign and a temporary deal was agreed with West Ham United and six months working under David Moyes, although little came from the London Stadium spell and a follow-up move was found for the ongoing campaign at Ipswich Town.

But following relegation into the Championship, the Portman Road side are unlikely to turn their loan deal into anything permanent, and as such further opportunities to move away from Manchester City are being analysed by Etihad bosses.

Now, according to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, Kalvin Phillips is once again hoping that his boyhood and former club Leeds United will move to sign him from the Etihad Stadium this summer.

At present, it is stressed that there are no such indications that such a move could be of interest to the newly-promoted Elland Road club ahead of their Premier League return from the Championship.

From the side of Manchester City, the report says that Etihad Stadium bosses would take a £20 million fee for the defensive midfielder and also hand him a pay-off in the process.

Leeds United have found themselves at the centre of an additional cash boost during the final days of the Championship campaign, claiming the second division title with a 91st minute winner on the last weekend ahead of Burnley in second position.

Phillips has recently spoken out about the difficulties of life at Manchester City, despite the obvious significant benefits of training and playing alongside some of the game’s greatest players at present.

Speaking during an interview last November during his loan spell at Portman Road, Phillips told reporters, “At City, you can train with the best every day but if you’re not playing football every day, it’s difficult to stay fit, it’s difficult to stay confident.

“When there are times you’re feeling like you could play and the manager decides to go down a different route, it does hurt a little. The more I wasn’t playing, the less confident I got, the less fit I got.”

The 29-year-old continued, “I just wanted to get that feeling back. I felt like I lost some fire in my belly to compete sometimes.”

Aside from Leeds United, it remains to be seen who else could offer interest in taking Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City in a permanent deal, with previous suitors during his time at Elland Road expected to be put off given his showings over the last 24 months in particular.