West Ham appears to be leading the race to secure the services of Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City, with the midfielder being informed of his lack of future at the Etihad.
City has given him the green light to explore opportunities in the January transfer window to secure more playing time, with an eye on earning a spot in the England squad for Euro 2024.
Reports suggest that West Ham is the frontrunner in the pursuit of Phillips, although they face stiff competition from Crystal Palace, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid.
Despite the high demand for Phillips, City has laid out a condition for any potential loan deal: that his substantial £135,000-a-week wages must be covered entirely by the acquiring club.
West Ham’s financial strength positions them well to meet these demands, having recently lightened their wage burden by loaning out Thilo Kehrer to Monaco.
Additionally, there is a possibility of Said Benrahma leaving, with interest from French clubs Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais.
Crystal Palace, under manager Roy Hodgson, have also expressed interest in Phillips, as confirmed by Hodgson before their recent 1-0 loss to Everton in the FA Cup third-round replay.
Meanwhile, Newcastle withdrew from the race due to concerns over the high loan fee demanded by City and their reluctance to include an obligation-to-buy clause.
Despite the uncertainties, Phillips remains optimistic about resolving his future swiftly. Having played just over 300 minutes in various competitions this season under Pep Guardiola, the midfielder is eager to secure regular playing time elsewhere.