Everton are looking at a move for Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
Phillips could again be available on a temporary deal after spending the second half of last season on loan at West Ham.
It had been thought a return to Leeds was likely this summer, but after they lost out to Southampton in the Championship play off final, Everton’s chances of brokering a deal have increased.
Phillips has made just 31 appearances for City since a £45m transfer from Leeds in July 2022 and Pep Guardiola admitted in December he cannot envisage the England midfielder in his team.
The 28-year-old joined West Ham on loan in January but the move did not work out.
He was culpable for goals conceded against Bournemouth and Manchester United, was sent off against Nottingham Forest and was then caught on camera performing a rude gesture to West Ham fans after a defeat at Newcastle.
His poor form has led to his omission from Gareth Southgate’s 33-man training squad for Euro 2024 as he looks to kickstart his career.
Everton boss Sean Dyche has previously tried to sign Phillips during his time at Burnley in 2019, and spoke in glowing terms about him two years later.
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England manager Gareth Southgate explains why he has left Kalvin Phillips out of his latest squad citing a lack of form as the reason.
“I thought he was a very good player then and he’s a very good player now,” said Dyche. “He’s developed since then and continues to do so, so fair play to him.
“Your scouts are out there collecting information, they are scurrying around, and sometimes one catches your eye. He was one for me, I don’t think my staff liked him as much, but I was strong on him.
“I was quite strong on that one and I thought he would have been a good acquisition for us, but we couldn’t do it. The chairman at the time wouldn’t put the money in that it would have taken. Unfortunately he was out of our price range.
“That’s the way it goes and he’s proven himself. He’s a player who I thought could continue to improve and he has. I liked him then and I like him now, I think he’s a very good player who has shown that. It doesn’t need me to say that and he’s shown that.”
Everton also remain in talks with Leeds over another loan deal for winger Jack Harrison.
Harrison played 35 times for the Toffees last season and looks set to be available again following Leeds’ failure to win promotion back to the Premier League.
Phillips in, Onana out at Everton?
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The best of Kalvin Phillips for Manchester City and Leeds United in the Premier League
Sky Sports’ Ben Grounds:
It is understandable why Everton would want a loan deal for Phillips. The biggest obstacle could be convincing Manchester City to agree to another temporary switch.
Phillips was eligible for a second Premier League winner’s medal since making his £42m move to City back in 2022, but he will take little satisfaction from that mere technicality based on four league appearances in the early autumn.
His short stay at West Ham didn’t go according to plan. His omission from Gareth Southgate’s 33-man provisional squad for Euro 2024 was a foregone conclusion.
Phillips will want to close his Etihad chapter as much as the club at this stage, but Everton’s finances mean turning the City outcast into Sean Dyche’s first summer signing on a permanent deal is a non-starter.
Everton supporters will nevertheless be encouraged by the transfer development, as it demonstrates the club are being proactive in making the necessary changes to the first-team squad ahead of their return to pre-season training in July.
Earlier this month, director of football Kevin Thelwell said players “will be sold” and has asked fans for “patience and understanding” as the club works to improve its financial condition.
The club have vowed that they will never be in breach of profitability and sustainability regulations again – but that could mean a marquee name being sold before June 30, to comply with financial rules.
That is when clubs are due to submit their 2023/24 accounts and Premier League auditors review the three-year year period up until then.
Four-time player of the year Jordan Pickford and Jarrad Branthwaite represent the crown jewels that Everton will fight to retain.
But Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out of contract at the end of next season and Amadou Onana is another sellable asset. A deal which sees Phillips coming in and the Belgian international heading out could go a long way in bolstering Dyche’s summer budget while easing any PSR concerns.
The 2024 summer transfer window in the Premier League officially opens on Friday June 14 – the same day that Euro 2024 starts.
The window will close on August 30 at 11pm UK time.
The Premier League has brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.