Manchester City misfit Kalvin Phillips could be offered an escape route from the Etihad Stadium when the January transfer window rolls around.
The England international has endured a torrid spell in the blue side of Manchester since completing his mega-money departure from Leeds United in 2022.
Having struggled to nail down regular first-team minutes at the Etihad, speculation over the midfielder’s long-term future is rife, with several clubs already expressing an interest in his services.
Man City manager Pep Guardiola has now added fuel to the fire after hinting at a possible January departure for the wantaway Englishman.
“The international transfer window is over, now we’re here together,” Guardiola said during his pre-match press conference.
“When we need a game with transitions and need something with a little bit of chaos, Kalvin is perfect.
“It’s something you need to do, and today, I see one or two players who do it better. The reason is as simple as that, nothing more.
“But he’s here, and when the transfer window is open, nobody knows.”
Phillips is one of several midfielders on the shortlist of Bundesliga title holders Bayern Munich, who are still in the market for a defensive midfielder.
West Ham United and Newcastle United have also expressed a keen interest in securing Phillips’ signature, so the player is bound to have several exit routes in January.
Despite his Man City woes, Phillips continues to find himself in the good graces of England manager Gareth Southgate and has played a key role in their successful 2024 European Championship qualifying campaign.
However, he is likely to be relegated to the bench once again when Man City welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to the Etihad on Saturday afternoon.
Guardiola’s side will be looking to halt their poor run of form before it escalates any further, having suffered defeats in their last two Premier League outings.
However, Brighon have repeatedly proven they are no pushovers and are expected to put up a fight in the highly anticipated showdown.
