Kalvin Phillips, the £45million Manchester City midfielder, could potentially revive his career in Italy with Roma. The Italian giants have shown interest in the player, who unfortunately lost his place in the England squad before the Euros. However, reports from Italy suggest that coach Daniele De Rossi has concerns about Phillips’ fitness following a challenging period in his career.
During his time with Manchester City, Phillips had a difficult start, featuring in just two Premier League matches and four games in other competitions over a year and a half. In an attempt to keep his hopes of participating in Euro 2024 alive, the 28-year-old agreed to a loan move to West Ham. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a disaster as well, with Phillips starting only three league games and receiving a red card in one of them against Nottingham Forest.
The loan arrangement was cut short due to injury in May, leading Phillips to return to Manchester City for treatment. However, he has expressed his desire to return to training early in order to put the past few seasons behind him. Manchester City is scheduled to resume training in mid-July and embark on a pre-season tour of North America later in the month. Phillips is expected to be part of the traveling party, but if a suitable offer comes in from another club, his plans could change.
Despite his recent struggles, Phillips received encouragement from England manager Gareth Southgate, who stated that nobody has been able to fill the role that Phillips plays for the national team. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice initially started alongside each other in England’s first two Euro 2024 games, but Conor Gallagher replaced Phillips in the team’s most recent draw against Slovenia. Other players like Kobbie Mainoo from Manchester United and Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace are also being considered for the position.
In addition to Phillips, fellow England player Jack Grealish has been focused on getting in shape during the break. As the transfer window heats up, Chelsea has reportedly held talks with Jonathan David’s representatives, while Newcastle has pulled out of the race to sign Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Bayern Munich has also agreed to a £50million deal to sign Crystal Palace star Michael Olise.
Overall, Phillips’ potential move to Roma could provide him with a fresh start and an opportunity to regain his form. The interest from a prestigious club like Roma indicates that despite his recent setbacks, Phillips is still highly regarded in the footballing world. It remains to be seen whether he will be part of Manchester City’s plans for the upcoming season or if a suitable offer will prompt his departure. However, with his determination to overcome the challenges he has faced, Phillips is poised to make a strong comeback and prove his worth on both the domestic and international stages.