Manchester City have agreed a deal with Leeds United worth around £45million for England international Kalvin Phillips as a summer reset at the Etihad continues apace.
Leeds accepted a bid for Phillips after the Academy graduate signalled a reticence to sign new terms on a contract with two years to run. The club – who have also agreed a £5million deal for City’s promising 18-year-old midfielder Darko Gyabi – have a succession plan for Phillips ready to go, having anticipated his likely departure for months. The move could be rubber-stamped as early as next week, i understands.
RB Leipzig midfielder Tyler Adams – who has played under head coach Jesse Marsch – is one option they are pursuing as the club pledges to invest the proceeds of the Phillips sale. They may yet lose key forward Raphinha, who is still wanted by Arsenal.
For City, it represents another major signing after Erling Haaland joined for £51million earlier in the summer. Phillips has been earmarked to replace Fernandinho, who departed in the summer.
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With Pep Guardiola’s side still in the market for further reinforcements, it could cap a remarkable summer for the Premier League champions – who could raise close to £100million in sales to offset their incomings.
They are set to cash in on Gabriel Jesus, who is nearing a move to Arsenal, with Raheem Sterling’s future increasingly uncertain.
But a move for Phillips makes sense for all parties, with Leeds aware of his desire to play Champions League football and always likely to do a deal for the right price. His injury-plagued 2021-22 season injected a dose of realism into their thinking and Marsch’s rebuild will step up a gear.
Phillips was coveted by Manchester United but i understands that Phillips wanted to preserve his relationship with Leeds fans so a move to Old Trafford was never a serious possibility.
Instead, he will join England colleagues Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden at the Etihad in a move that is almost certain to guarantee his place in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.
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