Redaction Simon Brett with Tom Procter
Published on 2024-02-07 18:15:00
Kalvin Phillips had left Manchester City last month, as per expectation. A report has come out that has uncovered the reasons for him not joining Barcelona. His departure from the club was attributed to the lack of playing time at the Etihad, which had been an ongoing issue since the previous season. According to the report, Pep Guardiola lacked trust in the player and only provided him with 10 appearances, most of them being as a substitute.
It was no surprise that Phillips was looking to leave and the question was only which club he would ultimately choose. Despite interest from various other clubs, he decided to make the move to West Ham United. One of the interested clubs was Barcelona, but they were unable to secure his signing due to the demand from Manchester City for a loan fee.
Even though the Spanish club was reported to have an interest in Phillips, they could not afford the deal unless there was no loan fee involved. City was reluctant to agree to a free loan as they didn’t want to repeat what happened with Joao Cancelo in their previous dealings with Barcelona.
In the end, City managed to secure a loan fee from West Ham of around £5-6 million. Even though Phillips did not have a great start at his new club, staying in the Premier League was the best move for him, as he was in danger of losing his place in the England squad for the upcoming Euro 2024. He needed to be playing regularly in the Premier League in order to maintain visibility for Gareth Southgate, and playing for a team like West Ham, where the manager already admires him, seems like a good opportunity for Phillips.
The report also mentions the interest of other English clubs such as Newcastle United and the possibility of a move to Juventus. However, Phillips’ decision to stay in the Premier League seems to be in accordance with his career aspirations and could potentially put him in a better position for his national team selection. So, in the end, the move to West Ham seems to be the best fit for him.
Read Original article on Manchester City News
