Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips has reportedly expressed a desire to join Barcelona following a challenging loan spell at West Ham.
Initially bought for £42 million ($53.41m) with hopes of bolstering City’s midfield, Phillips struggled to make an impact, featuring only 10 times under Pep Guardiola this season.
His lack of form led to a loan move to West Ham in January, but he failed to impress, remaining mostly on the bench and consequently being omitted from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming European Championships in Germany.
According to the Spanish outlet Sport, Phillips has shown interest in moving to Barcelona to rejuvenate his career.
He had hoped to make the switch in January, but financial constraints at Barcelona hindered the deal.
Phillips believes that Barcelona’s style of play would suit him well and is eager to join La Liga.
City is reportedly open to selling Phillips for approximately €30 million (£25.53m/$32.46m).
However, considering his recent form, securing a straightforward sale may be challenging.
Phillips aims to join a Champions League club and prefers to leave England if a suitable opportunity arises.
While Barcelona is aware of Phillips’ interest, their priority remains resolving financial issues before pursuing a deal.
Barcelona’s main target in midfield continues to be Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich. The German international has not yet agreed on a contract renewal with Bayern, and Barcelona is monitoring the situation closely.
Kimmich is also attracting attention from top clubs, including Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
Securing Kimmich would be a significant addition for Barcelona, but their financial constraints necessitate careful market navigation.
alvinMeanwhile, a return to Leeds is another possibility for Phillips.
However, he prioritizes opportunities that align with his ambition to compete at the highest level in Europe, making a move to Camp Nou his most appealing option.