Leeds United, West Ham and Everton have made enquiries into signing Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips on loan for the rest of the season, according to reports.
New Toffees manager Sean Dyche allegedly saw the England international as the ideal player to reignite their survival hopes, but so far Pep Guardiola has made no suggestion that he will leave this winter.
Phillips has featured infrequently for the Premier League champions this season, due to poor fitness and injuries, but the Spanish coach still thinks he has an important part to play for his team.
This is according to the Sun, who claim that despite the interest from the English trio, it’s unlikely that he will be going anywhere before the deadline, even on a temporary basis.
Rodri has been Guardiola’s main defensive midfielder this season, despite Phillips arriving on a sizeable £42m deal last summer.
The manager was also left frustrated by the Englishman’s fitness following the World Cup, saying he had come back from Qatar ‘overweight.’
Since though, he has suggested that this is no longer an issue. Speaking in late December, Guardiola said: “He has the perfect body now – so sexy.
“He spent the first part of the season out with surgery to arrive for the World Cup – and did everything to get to the World Cup.
“It’s not just about just being fit you also have to understand what we want to do, the movements etc.
“So that means, as quick as possible because Rodri cannot play all the games, so as quick as possible he will play.
“But I’m happy that yesterday for example Kalvin trained really well and sooner or later he will play.”
However, Phillips has still played just 18 minutes for City in the Premier League this season, which prompted the interest of his former club Leeds, Everton and West Ham.
Everton are arguably the club most in need of deadline day signings, after enduring the worst start to a season in their entire history.
A loan for Phillips allegedly had a chance of happening if Marcelo Bielsa was appointed their new manager, who worked with Phillips at Leeds, but now there is very little chance of a deal being struck.
They have also missed out on signing Rennes winger Kamaldeen Sulemana after he opted to join fellow relegation candidates Southampton, which came as a massive blow to Dyche.
Now, they have just a few hours left to get some crucial business done.
Leeds, on the other hand, would have loved to regain the services of Phillips, who…
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