Manchester City have agreed on a deal to sign Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United this summer.
According to a report from The Athletic, the Premier League champions will pay a fee of around £45m for the 26-year-old defensive midfielder.
Brazilian international midfielder Fernandinho parted ways with the Premier League giants at the end of last season. Pep Guardiola needed to bring in a top-class replacement for the Manchester City stalwart.
Phillips has established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league, and he could prove to be a superb alternative in the long run.
The 26-year-old is yet to reach his peak, and he could improve further under the management of Pep Guardiola.
The midfielder certainly has the potential to justify the reported outlay in the long run. It will be interesting to see if he can quickly adapt to Manchester City’s playing style and make an immediate impact.
Furthermore, it remains to be seen whether he can hold down a regular starting birth at Manchester City next season, especially with the Spanish international Rodri ahead of him in the pecking order.
Phillips has formed an excellent partnership at the middle of the park for the England national team alongside Declan Rice, and he will be hoping to form a similar equation with Rodri at the club level now.
The Premier League champions have been very active in the transfer market so far. They have improved their squad with the signings of Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips. The likes of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus are expected to leave this summer before the window closes.
