Transfer Talk: Liverpool and Newcastle could offer Phillips an England lifeline

Kalvin Phillips looks set for a January move that can resurrect his club career and cement his international ambitions. 

The Manchester City midfielder has struggled for playing time at the Etihad since joining from Leeds in July 2022. 

Yet he remains a trusted member of Gareth Southgate's England squad and looks sure of his spot at Euro 2024, if he can secure regular first-team football. 

Ahead of City's Champions League trip to Young Boys tonight, we take a look at Phillips' situation and some possible destinations. 

Southgate stance

After starting for England in their 3-1 win over Italy earlier this month, Phillips spoke about the possibility of leaving City. 

He said: "I know that I need to be playing games and competing every weekend. 

"I'm going to have to make a decision over the next months." 

The 27-year-old went on to reveal that England boss Southgate had made it clear what was at stake. 

Phillips said: "He just says that for me to keep my spot I have to be playing games. 

"That's what I want to do. I have agreed with Gareth on that. 

"I want to play football and want to play as much as possible. 

"Over the last year and a half, I haven't been able to do that due to injuries. It's something I am going to have to think about. 

"Hopefully my chance does come but if it doesn't then I will have to make other decisions as well." 

Guardiola admission

Pep Guardiola was questioned about Phillips' future before the 2-1 victory against Brighton last Saturday. 

He said: "The transfer window is over, now we are here together. When we need a game with transitions or games with something with chaos, Kalvin is perfect. 

"When there is something you need to do, there are still one or two players who can do it better. That's the simple reason.

"He will be here until winter. After, I don't know what will happen, because nobody knows once the window is open."

While Guardiola was somewhat ambiguous with his words, it seems extremely likely that Phillips will be allowed to leave. 

City are not in the habit of retaining players that want to move elsewhere and were open to the former Leeds man exiting in the summer. 

Phillips has only made five appearances in all competitions for the Premier League champions this season and earned fewer than 600 minutes in last term's Treble-winning campaign.

Next move

With a move seemingly guaranteed for Phillips, the next question is where he will end up. 

Despite having struggled to play regularly at City, his stock remains relatively high, as evidenced by his continued presence in the England team. 

Guardiola is known to be an extremely exacting manager and he is blessed with a myriad of midfield options, including Rodri, starlet Rico Lewis and summer signing Mateo Kovacic.

There are plenty of top Premier League clubs whose starting line-up would be improved by the presence of Phillips. 

Newcastle have been linked, with Sandro Tonali set to soon receive a lengthy ban for breaching betting rules.

Liverpool are also reported to have been interested, as Jurgen Klopp continues to reshape his midfield. 

Outside of the English top flight, Bayern Munich have been mentioned as a possible destination, with the German giants having failed to land a defensive anchorman in the summer transfer window. 

It looks like Phillips will have the option of joining another top side and that is exactly what he needs in the run-up to Euro 2024.