Newcastle United, West Ham United, Everton and Crystal Palace are all set to rival Juventus for the signature of Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to a report.
The 28-year-old is widely expected to leave the Etihad Stadium in the January transfer window as he has struggled to gain regular first-team football under manager Pep Guardiola.
Phillips has started just five of his 31 appearances for Man City since joining from boyhood club Leeds United in July 2022, and he has allegedly been given the green light by the Citizens to seek pastures new.
A host of clubs from across Europe have been credited with an interest in signing Phillips, including Serie A leaders Juventus.
The Italian giants are believed to be in the market for midfield reinforcements due to the long-term absences of Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli – the former is facing an anti-doping tribunal for a failed drugs test while the latter has been handed a seven-month ban from football for breaching betting rules.
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However, according to Sky Sports News, Juventus face competition for Phillips's signature from Premier League quartet Newcastle, West Ham, Everton and Crystal Palace.
The report adds that Man City would prefer to sell Phillips in January, but a loan move has not been ruled out, although their demands for a £5m loan fee as well as paying the majority, if not all, of his £135,000-a-week wages could be a stumbling block for a number of interested suitors.
Several of these teams are said to have made initial approaches to Man City to register their interest in Phillips, with Newcastle one club who have been tipped as a plausible destination for the midfielder.
The Magpies have been keen to strengthen their midfield ever since summer signing Sandro Tonali was handed a 10-month ban in October last year for breaching betting rules.
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However, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and CEO Darren Eales have acknowledged that business in January could prove challenging as the club continues to work with the constraints of Financial Fair Play.
West Ham, meanwhile, have also been long-term admirers of Phillips, but the finances required to secure the services of the midfielder are said to be an obstacle, and the same can be said for both Everton and Crystal Palace.
It is understood that Juventus have held initial talks with Man City over a proposed loan move for Phillips, but manager Massimiliano Allegri would allegedly prefer a different profile of midfielder.
The likes of Al Ettifaq's Jordan Henderson, Nottingham Forest's Orel Mangala and Tottenham Hotspur's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are among a number of other midfielders that have been linked with Juve.
Oliver Thomas
