Kalvin Phillips Could Secure January Exit as Wolves Circle Manchester City Midfielder
Kalvin Phillips may finally be offered a route out of Manchester City this January, with Wolverhampton Wanderers emerging as serious contenders to sign the sidelined midfielder before the transfer window closes.
The 30 year old has made just one appearance for Pep Guardiola’s side this season and remains firmly on the fringes at the Etihad, prompting renewed speculation over his future as Wolves look to strengthen in midfield.
Wolves are reportedly long term admirers of Phillips and are exploring a deal amid growing interest in Joao Gomes and Andre from rival clubs. The Midlands side view the City midfielder as a proven Premier League operator who could add stability and experience to their engine room.
The move comes at a crucial time for Wolves, who have quietly put together a five match unbeaten run across the Premier League and FA Cup. With relegation still a looming concern, the club believe Phillips’ top flight pedigree could prove decisive during the run in.
Phillips has struggled to establish himself since completing a £42 million move from Leeds United in the summer of 2022. After 21 appearances in his debut campaign, his involvement declined sharply the following season before a short and difficult loan spell at West Ham United.
Last season saw Phillips spend the entire campaign on loan at Ipswich Town, where he made 22 appearances and scored once as Kieran McKenna’s side slipped back into the Championship. Despite regular minutes, the spell did little to reignite his standing at City.
This season has offered little change. His only outing came in September when he appeared as a substitute in a 2 0 Carabao Cup win over Huddersfield Town, underlining how far he has fallen in Guardiola’s midfield hierarchy.
Phillips’ City career has also been shaped by public scrutiny following comments made by Guardiola after the 2022 World Cup, when the manager described the midfielder as overweight. Guardiola later issued an apology, acknowledging the comment as a rare mistake.
The England international admitted the episode was difficult, explaining that the situation had been misunderstood and magnified beyond proportion. Despite his efforts to regain full fitness, opportunities at City never followed.
While Phillips weighs up his next move, Manchester City’s immediate focus is on recovery after a turbulent week. Guardiola’s side host Wolves on Saturday as they look to respond to a shock Champions League defeat to Bodo Glimt and a damaging derby loss to Manchester United.
City now sit seven points behind Arsenal in the title race and face mounting pressure to stabilise their season. For Phillips, a potential reunion with Wolves could represent a fresh start and a final opportunity to reclaim relevance at the highest level.