Newcastle United are planning to firm up their interest in Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips during the January transfer window, sources have confirmed to 90min.
The Magpies are on the hunt for midfield reinforcements after marquee summer signing Sandro Tonali received a season-ending ban for betting offences.
The club’s interest in Phillips pre-dates their knowledge that a suspension was on the horizon for Tonali, and 90min understands intermediaries have now informed Newcastle that Man City will allow him to leave in January.
Financial Fair Play concerns mean Newcastle would rather take Phillips on an initial loan. Man City would be willing to sanction this, but only if such a deal comes with a purchase option.
Though several clubs from across England and Europe – including Aston Villa, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus – have made enquiries about Phillips’ situation recently, Newcastle are believed to appeal to the 27-year-old.
Phillips was keen to prove himself at Man City and had hoped to work his way back into the fold before Christmas, but it is becoming increasingly clear he is not in Pep Guardiola’s long-term plans.
Though he has put his injury struggles of his first season at the Etihad Stadium behind him, Phillips has played just 215 minutes of football for Man City this season and has started just one game – which ironically was a 1-0 loss at Newcastle in round three of the Carabao Cup.
Despite his game time being limited at club level, Phillips kept his place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for all three international windows so far this season.
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