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Pundit says £45m Man City bench warmer would walk straight into Manchester United’s team
Dean Saunders has shared whether he believes Kalvin Phillips would get into the Manchester United team as he looks increasingly likely to leave Manchester City in the January transfer window.
Kalvin Phillips is one player who needs to leave the Etihad Stadium as soon as possible. He is yet to start a single Premier League game this season. And his last appearance in the top-flight came almost two months ago.
A host of sides want the England international in January. Newcastle are now confident of agreeing a deal to sign Phillips. Meanwhile, Liverpool also have their eye on Phillips.
Kalvin Phillips would get into Manchester United team
But there are other sides who surely need the former Leeds United talisman. And speaking on (broadcast on 28/12 from 6:00), Dean Saunders suggested that he is someone Erik ten Hag could probably do with at Old Trafford.
“That’s a sought after position. Man United signed Casemiro to play in that position, he could get in that team. Would he get in Liverpool’s team? Probably. I think he’s better than Endo, if he’s playing every week,” he said.
“He’d get in Newcastle’s team. Would he get in Spurs’s team? You can only sit there for so long, it’s very difficult to earn more money somewhere else so he will be sitting there thinking I have to take a wage cut here. It’s about when you make that decision. Do I leave and play football or do I sit here on ridiculous wages?”
Old Trafford move seems hard to imagine
As a Leeds fan, this particular writer is really hoping that Phillips does not end up at Manchester United. But the middle of the park is one area – of several, in truth – which needs strengthening next month.
Ten Hag has used the likes of Casemiro, Scott McTominay, Sofyan Amrabat, Christian Eriksen and Kobbie Mainoo in that position.
Mainoo has been bright at the start of his career. But Amrabat has been underwhelming. Meanwhile, McTominay has arguably flattered to deceive because he has scored some important goals along the way.
Phillips thrived most at Leeds when he was made central to Marcelo Bielsa’s plans. Unfortunately at City, he has been lost in the shuffle.
So his next move looks to be particularly important for the sake of his career at the highest level.
And while he would potentially get into Manchester United’s side, a lot more would surely have to change before ten Hag’s men could offer Phillips the platform to really get his career back on track.