MANCHESTER CITY midfielder Kalvin Phillips is set to join newly-promoted Ipswich Town on a season-long loan.
The 28-year-old will be given another Premier League lifeline after a disappointing six-month loan spell with West Ham last term.
Man City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is inches away from joining Ipswich on loan[/caption] He was shipped out on loan to West Ham in January after failing to break into Man City’s star-studded starting XI[/caption]Phillips is on the brink of moving to Portman Road but the deal does not include a sale option, reports The Telegraph.
Fulham and Everton had also been named as possible destinations for Phillips, but Ipswich appears to have won the race.
The midfielder has endured a tough couple of years since moving from his boyhood club Leeds for £45million in summer 2022.
When asked about Phillips’ minutes, Pep Guardiola said that he came back from the Qatar World Cup “overweight” in January 2023, but since apologised for the remark.
He joined West Ham on a six-month loan in January this year but struggled with fitness and form and any permanent move was ruled out.
Phillips gave away a goal on his debut and never recovered, starting just three games for the Hammers and getting sent off in a 2-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
His loan spell hit a new low in March during a 4–3 away defeat to Newcastle.
The Hammers were winning 3–1, but Phillips gave away a penalty shortly after coming on as a substitute.
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He was caught on camera swearing at an angry fan who deemed him “useless” while walking to the team bus after the game.
Phillips was an unused substitute in Man City’s Community Shield triumph over neighbours Manchester United – even though Rodri was not involved.
He did feature regularly during pre-season for the champions – even playing at centre-back during the tour of the USA.
But he knows that with 13 players who featured at the Euros coming back into the squad, he is unlikely to get chances if he stays at the Etihad.
Meanwhile, Ipswich are keen on the signing of Blackburn midfielder Sammie Szmodics.
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