If the media is to be believed, Newcastle United have been at the front of the queue for Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips for several months.
The reports were so strong that many assumed it was already a ‘done deal’ and that all that remained was for the transfer window to open and everything to be confirmed.
Fabrizio Romano, the creator of X, has given an update this morning that calls all of it into question.
Kalvin Phillips could be playing in black and white soon – but not for Newcastle
The transfer specialist now claims that Juventus are in talks with Phillips over a January move to free him from his Man City hell.
“Understand Juventus have now opened talks with Manchester City to discuss Kalvin Phillips deal.
“Negotiations starting between clubs as Kalvin is said to be open to the move.
“Juventus plan to offer loan with buy option clause. Man City want it to be mandatory. Talks on.”
It would seem then, that if a deal is to happen for the £45million former Leeds man to come to Newcastle, there’s still work to be done.
Newcastle needs a solid holding midfielder and Phillips would be ideal
The Magpies are desperate for a number six to play between the defense and the midfield. Bruno Guimaraes has tried his hand at it, but as we witnessed against Fulham on Saturday, he’s simply too essential as an attacking force to sit back.
Phillips, without a doubt, can fill that role for us. However, there is always the question of whether he will be match-fit after being used so infrequently by Pep Guardiola.
Of all, beggars can’t be choosers, and a completely fit but not match-fit Phillips is still preferable to a not-quite-fit everyone else we have right now.
Even though we have players returning from injuries, we still don’t have a number six, so Phillips could be an alternative, but as things stand, Juventus appear to be ahead.
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