‘Kalvin Phillips’ future confirmed amid significant Man City breakthrough’
Manchester City’s midfield is set to receive a significant boost with the latest Morgan Gibbs-White breakthrough.
As revealed by Football Insider on Wednesday (9 July), Man City have agreed personal terms with the England international.
The Cityzens are understood to have been working on a deal to sign Gibbs-White for some time now and while there is still work to do in finding an agreement with Nottingham Forest, coming to an accord with the player represents a major step forward.
Of course, Gibbs-White’s arrival is sure to have a major knock-on effect throughout the rest of the Man City squad.
Kalvin Phillips pushed further down Man City pecking order
Kalvin Phillips is one such player who will definitely feel the pinch of Gibbs-White’s arrival.
The 31-time England international has already been a marginalised figure at the Etihad Stadium, playing just 31 times across all competitions for City since arriving from Leeds in 2022.
Instead, Phillips has had to go out on loan to West Ham and Ipswich in search of more minutes but even then, injuries and a loss of form have meant he’s only managed 32 appearances combined for those two sides over the last two campaigns.
Phillips remains under contract at Manchester City until the summer of 2028, so he doesn’t have the luxury of leaving on a free transfer anytime soon.
If he were to see out that contract, it could prove cataclysmic to his chances of seeing regular action on the pitch.
Kalvin Phillips must decide next move carefully
Football Insider verdict
Phillips will turn 30 midway through the upcoming season, so his prime years are definitely coming to an end.
With that in mind, he must pick his next move very wisely.
Leeds United have been linked with a move to bring Phillips back to Elland Road in the past and while that would be romantic, there are doubts as to whether or not the midfielder can still cut it in the Premier League.
| Man City career stats (since 2022) | Kalvin Phillips |
| Appearances | 31 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Minutes | 914 |
But there are other options on the table for Phillips.
The likes of Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour have reignited their careers by moving to Serie A, winning the league title with Napoli last season.
Perhaps more realistic could be a lucrative move to somewhere like the Saudi Pro League or Major League Soccer, where Phillips can fit in to a slower pace but still pick up a salary package likely far higher than he’s able to command in a top European league.
Either way, Phillips’ hand will be forced this summer, with his next decision possibly the biggest of his career so far.