Why Bayern Munich transfer is Man City star's best chance at saving career

Suraj Radia

18 Oct 2023 17:11 BST
4 min read

Kalvin Phillips has admitted he may need to leave Manchester City in the near future in search for more first team football after failing to break into Pep Guardiola’s team.

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Phillips has made just two Premier League starts since his €49 million transfer from Leeds last summer and saw his debut year plagued with injury and fitness issues.

However, despite injuries to key midfielders such as Rodri and Kevin de Bruyne this season, Phillips has still struggled for first team football, playing just 167 minutes across all competitions so far.

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Phillips has played more for England in the past year than his club but the 27-year-old is aware he may struggle to get into Gareth Southgate’s squad for next summer’s European Championships unless he plays more regularly.

City had rebuffed any interest in Phillips this summer as they believed he was an important part of the squad, while the player himself was keen to fight for his place in the team.

But the perhaps belated concession that he may have to leave City could prove to be the catalyst in his exit, leading to questions as to which team could help Phillips get his career back on track?

Which teams are the best fit for Kalvin Phillips?

A hard-working, tough-tackling midfielder, Phillips played his best football for Marcelo Bielsa’s high-pressing Leeds team, while also being integral for England as they reached the final of Euro 2020.

Phillips’ playstyle is something taken into account by SciSports, who use analytics to give a data-driven insight into which teams are most suited to sign the City man in the coming months.

Playing time and the potential for development are also factors considered, leading to Bayern Munich being perhaps the surprise club believed to be the best option for Phillips, with the data suggesting he could progress significantly at the German giants.

© ProShots - The clubs best suited for Kalvin Phillips according to SciSports

Phillips is believed to already be a target for Bayern, with Thomas Tuchel clearly having been an admirer of the midfielder while in charge at Chelsea, more so due to Bayern’s desire for a defensive-minded option in his mould.

Should he prefer to remain in the Premier League, an intriguing option could be Fulham, who may look to the England international if they end up selling Joao Palhinha – who, ironically, was close to joining Bayern on deadline day this summer, with Phillips pursued as a replacement.

EXCLUSIVE: The failed approach for Kalvin Phillips by Premier League outfit

The playing time on offer at Fulham could prove an attractive option for Phillips compared to Bayern, as it would at Everton, who are also considered a top fit, while more adventurous moves to Real Betis and Lazio are also suggested.

City would undoubtedly like to recoup most the money they paid for Phillips but his decline in form could hinder that, with SciSports believing him to now be worth just €21.4m.

A pricetag in that region could tempt Bayern or Fulham, while providing the right balance of first team opportunity and prestige for Phillips to remind supporters why he was Guardiola’s top choice last summer and to reignite his career for club and country.