Kalvin Phillips emerges as ‘ambitious’ Everton transfer target as Manchester City man could leave on deadline day
Kalvin Phillips “would be an ambitious target” for Everton on deadline day with the club still looking for a midfielder, according to i News.
The digital newspaper reported via their website on Thursday evening (31 August) that the forgotten Manchester City man “could be allowed to leave” for more first-team football, and “well-connected” Toffees director of football Kevin Thelwell might attempt a deal.
Phillips, 27, hasn’t played a single minute of first-team football so far this season but was named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad on Thursday, and Sean Dyche wants to strengthen in midfield.
Outgoing transfers will be required to fund incoming business unless it is a loan, after the Toffees landed striker target Beto for around £25million.
Late bombshell?
Phillips has barely been seen in a Manchester City shirt since his big-money move from Leeds United a year ago, while he has picked up winners medals with almost as much frequency as he has appearances.
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Clearly his national team place isn’t under threat for now, but how long that will last likely depends on alternatives performing well elsewhere.
If Thelwell was able to bring him to Goodison Park it would be an impressive late move for a side that was looking in major need of an extra boost as they laboured to a win over Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday.
Landing Beto was arguably the most important thing the club had to do before the deadline, and his goalscoring display on debut showed that.
But while the centre of midfield looks one of the stronger units in the squad injuries have already hit this season and Idrissa Gana Gueye will turn 34 in less than a month.
A permanent transfer seems out of the question since it would take selling Alex Iwobi, Demarai Gray and more to be able to finance such a move, and with Phillips widely thought to want to fight for his Etihad career a loan may be the most he would be open to.
In other Everton news, the club are preparing an offer to bring in a Premier League attacker for Dyche before the deadline.
