While a mass exodus was expected at the Etihad Stadium this summer, Manchester City are yet to bid farewell to several of their players who were linked with exits.
Kevin De Bruyne is set to join Napoli but it was expected that several more big names to follow suit in the transfer window.
Jack Grealish is ready to depart Manchester City and it looks like sooner rather than later, his time under Pep Guardiola could come to an end as well.
Squad rebuilds tend to be a ruthless process but one that clubs are thankful to have conducted years down the line.
Kalvin Phillips looks set for Man City exit as Tijjani Reijnders takes his shirt number
Kalvin Phillips is a player who has seemed destined to leave Manchester City for ages.
Manchester City are ready to finally sell Phillips after his loan moves to West Ham United and Ipswich Town have also indicated that he is a shadow of the player he was at Leeds United.
If the Englishman’s future was under any doubt before, it has become clearer than ever as Tijjani Reijnders has been handed his shirt number.
Reijnders is set to don the number during the FIFA Club World Cup, which was made popular by Vincent Kompany during his time at Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola is prepared to let Phillips leave and understandably so as even during his time at Manchester City, the former Leeds midfielder looked out of his depth.
The £42 million (The Athletic) fee City paid to sign the 29-year-old was a poor investment as his positional discipline, athleticism and poise left a lot to be desired when he was given a chance in the side.
Manchester City’s coaches were unconvinced by Phillips from day one and as Reijnders has now taken his shirt number, it would be perhaps best for both the player and the club to finally go their separate ways.
Kalvin Phillips has decided his next club
The midfielder’s priority should be to play regular football next season.
While it seems unlikely that the City ace will return to becoming a player in contention to play for England again, stranger things have happened in football.
Phillips fancies a return to Leeds and perhaps playing for his boyhood club once again could unleash the best version of the player who caught Manchester City’s eye.
The Elland Road faithful will likely accept their once-talisman with open arms, which would do wonders for his confidence as well.
