Town are among three Premier League clubs eyeing Manchester City’s England midfielder Kalvin Phillips ahead of the closure of the transfer window at the end of the month.
The 28-year-old has had a frustrating time since joining City for £45 million in the summer of 2022 from Leeds, making only two league starts and 14 sub appearances for the Premier League champions, then spending the second half of last season on loan at West Ham where he started only three top flight matches in addition to playing five games from the bench.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the Blues, Everton and Fulham are all keen on recruiting the 31-times-capped England international this summer. We understand there is something in the reported Town interest.
Manchester City are ideally targeting a permanent sale with the Leeds-born schemer not in manager Pep Guardiola’s plans, although he has impressed in pre-season playing at centre-half, but it’s said they may be willing to agree a loan.
Town are yet to add to the midfield this summer but are almost certain to want to strengthen that area of the squad before the window closes.
Phillips would be an ambitious move even on loan and, as with other potential deals, the Blues might struggle to fight off the more established clubs also in the hunt for his signature.
Elsewhere, former Town academy youngster Ben Knight has left Manchester City to join Real Murcia on a permanent basis.
Knight, 22, left the Blues’ youth set-up to join City in 2018, veteran academy coach Bryan Klug having said he was the best youth player he had ever worked with.
The forward made one senior appearance for City, as a sub in the Community Shield at Wembley, while spending spells on loan at Crewe and Stockport.