The story of Kalvin Phillips has been quite a disappointing one. Once regarded as one of England’s finest midfielders, the former Leeds United starlet has endured a tough time after joining Manchester City.
Phillips has fallen behind in the pecking order at Etihad, with coach Pep Guardiola not trusting him enough to play him frequently. But this might just emerge as an opportunity for a club like Barcelona.
Barcelona eyeing loan deal for Phillips
According to a report from Diario AS, Barcelona are interested in signing Kalvin Phillips on a loan deal.
The Catalans are desperately looking for a new holding midfielder this January after Oriol Romeu failed to meet expectations.
Barcelona have been linked with moves for several players, but it appears Kalvin Phillips is the latest entrant on the list.
Sporting director Deco, in particular, is a huge fan of the former Leeds United star and is exploring the opportunity to sign him on a loan deal this January.
Potential obstacles for Barça
Barcelona, however, are set to face multiple roadblocks in their bid to sign Kalvin Phillips on loan this month.
For one, the Manchester City star has a lucrative salary at Etihad, which is going to be hard to match for Barcelona, especially in the current financial situation.
Moreover, Barcelona are not the only club interested in the English international. The player has been also courted by other European giants such as Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
With that in mind, it could prove to be difficult for Barça to secure a deal for Phillips. Deco, however, is quite familiar with the Premier League and may have a few contacts in England that can help him advance this deal.
Meanwhile, at Barcelona, the club have considered Andreas Christensen as a potential in-house solution for the number six position, especially if they fail to sign a new player this January.