A new club record will be set by a $65 million Manchester City player who is about to sign a long-term contract with Aston Villa

The latest Aston Villa news as the midfielder has struggled for game time since moving from Leeds to Manchester City last summer, with Villa long-term admirers.

Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips has said that he will have to “make a decision” over his future soon, amid links with Aston Villa.

The midfielder helped England to secure their place in Euro 2024 in Germany on Tuesday night, thanks to a 3-1 win over Italy at Wembley. Philips started the game, before being replaced by Jordan Henderson in the second hal

 

It was a rare start for the 27-year-old, who has found game time hard to come by since completing a move from Leeds to Man City last summer. He is yet to start in the Premier League this season and was an unused substitute for City’s 1-0 defeat against Arsenal in their last outing.

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It means that the player could look to move on in January in order to increase his playing time to help his case for a place in the England squad for the Euros. Villa have held a long-term interest in the player.

Villa continue to be linked with Phillips and are said to be one of the clubs, alongside Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham who are all keeping an eye on the situation. Phillips has now hinted that he would be open to a January move in order to increase his game time.

“I know that I need to be playing games and competing every weekend,” he said following the win over Italy (via BBC Sport). “I’m going to have to make a decision on [my future] over the next months.

A message from manager Gareth Southgate could also prompt the midfielder to move in the next window: “He [Gareth Southgate] just says that for me to keep my spot I have to be playing games,” Phillips added. “That’s what I want to do. I have agreed with Gareth on that.”

“I want to play football and want to play as much as possible. Over the last year and a half, I haven’t been able to do that due to injuries and [other factors]. It’s something I am going to have to think about.”

He added: “Hopefully my chance does come but if it doesn’t then I will have to make other decisions as well.”