Transfer Talk: Phillips can reignite Premier League career at Newcastle

Kalvin Phillips could be on the move in January.

The midfielder remains out of favour at Manchester City and will be desperate for regular first-team football ahead of this summer's European Championship.

Newcastle have been strongly linked with Phillips as they look to bolster their injury-depleted squad after a difficult first half of the season.

Ahead of their FA Cup derby with Sunderland, we look at what the England international would bring to St James' Park.

City struggles

Phillips' move to City has not worked out.

Plenty were excited to see how the former Leeds man would develop under Pep Guardiola after making the switch in July 2022.

But he has not played enough and was unable to dislodge the likes of Rodri from City's starting XI.

Phillips has made just four appearances from the bench — totalling a meagre 89 minutes — in the Premier League this season

It has become increasingly clear that he has no future with the club.

In September, Guardiola said: "Marcelo [Bielsa] gave Kalvin the best of Kalvin in his career.

"I'd love to have done with Kalvin what Marcelo has done to him. We have our own specific way to play and [he] sometimes struggles in a few things, while the previous [Leeds playing style] was perfect [for him].

"We brought Kalvin here for his quality. He is open minded, always wants to learn and wants to help. This is what we want to try to do."

Toon talk

With no promise of game time on the horizon, Newcastle are reportedly interested in snapping up the midfielder.

The Magpies have the finances to do a deal for Phillips and crucially, he could be a better fit in Eddie Howe's system.

The 28-year-old was excellent under Bielsa in a high-pressing, dynamic Leeds team — and Howe's Newcastle share similarities.

Fitting into Guardiola's more measured, possession-based style of play has been a challenge but few Premier League players are better in transitional moments than Phillips.

Last season, even from a small sample size of just 12 appearances, the City midfielder demonstrated what he does best, ranking seventh in the league for possessions won in the middle third per 90 minutes (4.64).

With Sandro Tonali suspended and injuries to the likes of Joe Willock, Phillips would be a welcome addition for Newcastle.

England ambitions

Establishing himself at another Premier League club would further benefit Phillips internationally.

He has continued to feature regularly under Gareth Southgate — and his consistency for England is an indication of what he could offer Newcastle.

Southgate said: "He [Phillips] needs to play and is a really important player for us. We don't have many players who can operate the way he can.

"We have faith and trust in him — of course people talk about his lack of minutes but Scotland have it with Scott McTominay and we don't have an ideal situation."

The situation might become ideal if Phillips does join Newcastle and turns into a key player on Tyneside.

It is a move that could work well for several parties as the Magpies prepare to face their fierce rivals Sunderland in the FA Cup.