The stunning £10m loan signing Fulham could land that would shock transfer rivals
Fulham have been linked to a midfielder who is crying out for an opportunity to rediscover himself.
One of the problems Kalvin Phillips has faced at Manchester City is that he’s not Rodri (few of us are, in fairness), yet he plays in the same position. It remains one of the greatest unsolved puzzles - why exactly did Manchester City spent £45 million on the former Leeds United star, and then decide to not have him anywhere near starting in midfield?
One thing, though, is certain: Kalvin Phillips is a Premier League footballer, and in the right team, he is more than capable of being as good as they come. He has balance, positional awareness, and, despite his difficult time at Manchester City, a move to Fulham to replace Joao Palhinha could be the break he needs to redefine himself and get his career back on track.
A report from the Independent linked him with a move to Fulham, and it will be intriguing to see whether he will take a pay cut to go there. There are suggestions that Fulham could land him for around £10 million, with an obligation to buy, factoring in the initial fee. This gives the club a chance to assess him properly, provide him with the minutes he needs to regain his rhythm and restore his confidence, which seems to have taken a hit following his move to Manchester City.
Four years ago, Phillips was simply sensational, playing under Marcelo Bielsa, a man Pep Guardiola adored. It would be surprising if Guardiola agreed to sign him without speaking to Bielsa first. Clearly, there is mutual admiration between them, and Guardiola would likely have reached out to ask Bielsa what happened with Phillips.
Whatever might have happened to Phillips, we may learn after his career, but England needs him back to his best soon. He was such a massive part of the team that even manager Gareth Southgate admitted they were adapting to play without the 28-year-old.
Fulham clearly needs a player like Phillips, who has the legs and is on a mission to prove he has what it takes to be playing in the best league in the world. Tactically, he has it all. Marco Silva is underrated when it comes to developing players. Over the years, players like Richarlison and Abdoulaye Doucouré have played their best football under him. He is a brilliant man-manager and knows what it takes to be an absolute winner, as shown by how he’s been able to get Fulham punching above their weight.
Let’s not forget that it was under Silva that Palhinha developed into a top player, representing his country and eventually securing a move to Bayern Munich.
There’s something about this move that just seems right for everyone involved—including the club, as Manchester City will get a loan fee for a player they clearly don’t want, Fulham gets a decent player, and Phillips gets the minutes he wouldn’t ordinarily get if he stayed at City. After a disastrous loan spell at West Ham, the pressure is on Phillips to regain his status as a top class midfield operator, and Craven Cottage could be the ideal setting to rediscover his spark.