West Ham are “working on a deal” to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the January transfer window.
According to a report from The Mirror (printed edition, 19 January, page 56), the Hammers are preparing a loan move to sign the former Leeds midfielder who has dropped down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium under Pep Guardiola.
Newcastle – who are without Sandro Tonali for the entire season – are heavily linked with a move for Phillips but they are unsure about meeting City’s demands, even if it is on a loan deal.
Crystal Palace could be another option for the 28-year-old with Roy Hodgson openly stating his admiration for the player.
West Ham wanted Phillips in a lucrative package for Declan Rice before he moved to Arsenal. David Moyes is a keen admirer of Phillips who is set to leave the club in January.
City are open to letting him go out on loan but they want a transfer fee of around £5m and most, if not all, of his £135,000-per-week wages paid in full.
Busy in the last few days?
The Hammers could be really busy in the final few days of the January window. They have done well so far under Moyes, and with a little bit of support, the club can end the season on a high.
Phillips would be a superb signing for the Hammers. His move to Man City didn’t work out well, but that doesn’t mean he becomes a bad player overnight. He is a quality defensive midfielder, and Moyes can reignite his career.
West Ham are also showing keen interest in signing Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto, while they are also reportedly in the race for Armando Broja.
The Hammers could also offload one or two players to make room for new additions. The likes of Said Benrahma and Ben Johnson could leave before the transfer deadline.
