Everton are set to make a move for forgotten Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips, according to Sky Sports.
Sean Dyche’s Everton survived the 2023/24 Premier League season despite their points deduction, a feat you’d expect the former Burnley manager to be proud of. However, with the rest of their competition strengthening and Everton’s supportership expected to want to avoid a similar relegation scrap in the upcoming campaign, the Toffee’s are rumoured to be looking at signing a former Premier League title winner.
As reported by Sky Sports on the 28th May 2024, Everton are looking at a loan move for Manchester City midfielder, Kalvin Phillips, in order to bolster their midfield options.
How did the Manchester City man fall from grace?
It would see the former England international entertain his second Premier League loan move in as many seasons, after signing for West Ham United in January 2024.
His spell at The Hammers was filled with outside criticism, having got off on the wrong foot on his debut – when he slipped AFC Bournemouth striker, Dominic Solanke through on goal to open the scoring, after three minutes, with almost his first touch.
An opportunity to kick start his career, the West Ham move failed to see Phillips complete a full 90 minutes, in fact he only played a combined 40 minutes in the final seven games of the season.
Is Everton a good move for the former £45 million man?
Having missed out on Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 England team, and with seemingly no opportunities to break back into Pep Guardiola’s title-winning Manchester City team, Phillips will be likely to be touted across the division as he attempts to find a new home.
A move to Dyche’s Everton may make sense, with their pragmatic style of play, Phillips may work well in a combative side. And Dyche could fancy himself to return the midfielder to his Leeds United glory.
Speaking of the Yorkshire side… if Twitter rumours were to be believed, there was potential that Phillips may have ended up back at the club that once called him the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’. However, with Leeds’ failure in the Championship Play-off Final, it seems unlikely that Phillips will make a drop to the second tier.