Kalvin Phillips could head for the exit at Manchester City if and when Mateo Kovacic arrvies.
That is the view of ESPN pundit Craig Burley, who feels the Croatian’s arrival at the club would really it make it difficult for the England international to stay put.
At the moment, City are really close to signing Kovacic from Chelsea.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano reported yesterday that a deal is actually now ‘imminent’, and that City are just a ‘few million’ away from an agreement with the Blues.
The Kovacic links have been around for just over a month now.
And it looks as though the deal will now come to fruition.
And one does wonder what him coming to the club will mean for the rarely used Phillips.
Craig Burley suggests Kalvin Phillips could leave Man City due to the arrival of Mateo Kovacic
Kovacic’s impending move to City was the subject of conversation in a recent video put out by ESPN FC.
In the eyes of Burley, the 29-year-old coming in at City could push Phillips to the exit.
He said: “When I saw the Kovacic potential signing I thought well that’s a pathway for Kalvin Phillips to be moved on to another club.
“I think he could go somewhere else, like a Newcastle, that’s not quite at the level of City, and do quite a good job. I think Guardiola’s had a look at him and thought ‘You’re a good player’, but thinks he’s got better.
“I think Kalvin Phillips’ minutes on the field, unfortunately for him, would suggest that I’m right on this front.
“Kovacic… he can do all those jobs. He can sit in front of the back four, he can go in the forward (midfield) positions. I think this does spell the end, in my opinion, for someone like Kalvin Phillips (at City).”
Kalvin Phillips wants to stay at Man City, but Mateo Kovacic arrival would not be good for him
While Phillips has been linked with several other clubs, the player apparently wants to stay and fight for his place.
That is no real surprise, considering how little he featured in his first season since his £45 million move.
He will surely be determined to prove himself, and silence those that have mocked him.
But him staying at the club would be a bold move from him.
Rodri is the best 6 in the world. And Pep Guardiola has other midfield options like Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.
Ilkay Gundogan could yet extend, and then, of course, John Stones has started to play as a midfielder.
Furthermore, it has been reported recently that Pep wants to integrate James McAtee into the first-team squad.
So it’s difficult to see Phillips’ situation changing for the better.
