Manchester United are monitoring the situation of Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips after Pep Guardiola recently admitted he cannot see a place for him in his team, according to the Sun.
The Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag is a big fan of the former Leeds United star, and his side have placed the 28-year-old at the top of their summer shopping list.
Guardiola is not expected to stand in Phillips’ way if he wants to move to Man United, and a January loan deal could even be possible ahead of a potential permanent exit in the summer.
The Red Devils are unlikely to sign Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat permanently given his struggles since joining on loan in the summer, while they are willing to listen to offers for Casemiro given his huge wages.
Ten Hag is eyeing fresh reinforcements in the middle of the park, and the Dutchman believes the Man City man is perfectly suited to Man United and to the philosophy he is trying to instil in the team.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants the Old Trafford club to focus on investing in and developing English players, and Phillips fits that profile despite his lack of playing time at the Etihad Stadium club.
He has played 29 games for them since joining for £42 million in July 2022, but all of his seven appearances across the Premier League and Champions League this term have come from the bench.
Phillips remains a key player for England despite his struggles at club level, and he has the quality to make the Man United midfield tick.
Whether he would be keen on such a move remains to be seen given that he is a Leeds fan who also graduated from the Yorkshire club’s academy before becoming their hero.
However, nothing can be ruled out in football, and a move to Old Trafford could happen for Phillips if he is assured of regular playing chances.
