The former Leeds United star recently sat down for an interview with The Observer, explaining how his confidence went downhill after Guardiola said he was overweight when the midfielder came back from Qatar 2022.

“After the World Cup was probably the toughest, when Pep came out and said I was overweight. He was right to do so but there are different ways to go about it. I did not disagree with him but obviously I took a big knock on my confidence and how I felt at City. And my family were not happy about it, either. Especially my mom,” Phillips said.

The 28-year-old added there was a misunderstanding with Pep in regard to his return date from the World Cup. While Phillips understood the club authorized him to have days off, Guardiola seemed to want him immediately after England‘s participation ended. Besides, Phillips added he was just 1.5kg over his weight.

“I never got that information because if he asked me to have been there, I would have been there,” Phillips said. “It was just a misunderstanding and I think he was very frustrated with me coming back 1.5kg over my weight target.”

Phillips enjoying more playing time at West Ham

A loan move seems all Phillips needed to start enjoying the game again. While he only made six starts for just 380 Premier League minutes in a year and a half at City, the midfielder has already made three appearances in his first month at West Ham.

“Over the last 18 months … I still loved the game, it just changed my way of thinking a little bit. The game wasn’t letting me down but the fact I had nothing to look forward to kind of pushed me away. Now I’m here at West Ham and playing, I feel a lot more alive. It’s not starting from scratch, it’s starting afresh,” he said.

Phillips was part of a Manchester City squad that won the treble last season, but he barely saw the field throughout the campaign. Therefore, as exciting as winning the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in the same season could be, he was not so thrilled about watching all the action from the sidelines.

“It wasn’t a nightmare at City, it was just stressful. We won the treble. But when you’re sat on the bench, you don’t feel like it’s your medal to take, although they can’t take them away from me so I’m happy about that!,” he said.

Many of their superstars had yet a lot to prove before they could be seen as world-class players, but they flourished at the Etihad Stadium. Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Ederson, Julian Alvarez or Bernardo Silva are just some of them.

However, not all of their gambles paid off. The Sky Blues, for instance, seemed to get a dependable midfielder in Kalvin Phillips last year, but the Englishman has barely seen the field under Guardiola. His market value, in fact, dropped significantly in Manchester.

Kalvin Phillips’ worth drops by €22 million at Manchester City

According to Transfermarkt, Kalvin Phillips’ market value was €50 million in June 2022, before he left Leeds United for City. Flash-forward to October 2023, the 27-year-old is worth €28 million.

Of course, this significant decrease has to do with his lack of playing time with the reigning UEFA Champions League winners. Phillips has made just 26 appearances for City since his arrival in the summer of 2022, playing only 760 minutes at the club.

When the Citizens went after Phillips, he was seen as one of the best players at his positions in England. Under Marcelo Bielsa, he played a pivotal role in Leeds United’s return to the Premier League and even got called up to the Three Lions by Gareth Southgate.

Phillips made 234 appearances for the Whites, scoring 14 goals and providing 13 assists. At City, he has yet to score or assist. Therefore, many wonder whether this was the right move for him considering his stock was higher only a year ago.

How much have Man City paid for Kalvin Phillips?

Manchester City forked out €49 million to get Kalvin Phillips from Leeds United in the summer of 2022, with the midfielder signing a contract until June 2028.

How many games has Kalvin Phillips played for England?

Kalvin Phillips has 28 caps with the English national team. He made his senior international debut on August 9, 2020, in a goalless draw with Denmark for the UEFA Nations League.

Under Bielsa, Kalvin Phillips flourished, and it helped the 27-time capped England star land a major move to Manchester City. Not bad for a player who played six seasons in the Championship.

Off the pitch Kalvin Phillips has had to deal with an absent father who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence. In a new Amazon Prime documentary Kalvin Phillips: The Road To City, the England player speaks on the hardships of knowing his father is in a jail cell.

Kalvin Phillips on his convict father

“My drive is probably from not having a father figure there. I’ve always wanted to make my mum proud. Dad was in and out of prison. It affected our relationship because we didn’t see him all the time. When he went away, we knew he wasn’t coming back for a while, which was the worst thing.”

Kalvin’s mother Lindsay Crosby shared what the family went through, “I tried to hide a lot of things from the kids because I didn’t want them to think that this was OK. I used to say he’d gone to work because I didn’t want them to think it was normal to behave like that.”

Mark Phillips is in prison for a series of drug-related and violent crimes, the documentary concludes with Kalvin seeing his father in prison for the first time in seven years.

With Leeds surviving the drop and many of the club’s main players looking to move on in a post Bielsa world, Kalvin Phillips has been on the shortlist of many clubs in the Premier League.

Now the best team in the league is hoping to have a look at Kalvin Phillips and that is Manchester City who is willing to spend the $73 million transfer fee that Leeds is asking for according to ESPN.

Kalvin Phillips a Manchester City target

Guardiola is reported to like the midfielders’ versatility, Phillips can play in the No.6 and No.8 positions on the field. In only two years since being called into the England squad, Phillips has become a mainstay for Gareth Southgate’s side.

Despite the fact that Leeds are willing to offer Phillips a new contract, the 26-year-old has been keen to move on from Leeds for a chance to play at a bigger club.

Last season Phillips along with many players at Leeds were hit by the injury bug and he only was able to play in 20 games in the Premier League. While not known for scoring many goals, Phillips is a hard working box to box midfielder with good vision to find through passes.

While not overly terrible like a Newcastle United, Leeds season has been a disappointment as the club has not been able to string together a stretch of games where they win matches, instead Leeds have drawn or lost the majority of their games.

Nonetheless, the club continues to try to play that free-flowing attacking style that made them so popular the last few years, but offense has been hard to come by this season as Leeds have 15 goals in 15 games and a string of injuries to important players. Now the club stand to lose one of their best players as Manchester United and Liverpool want a crack at Kalvin Phillips.

Kalvin Phillips to Liverpool?

It is reported by SunSport that Kalvin Phillips has drawn interest from Manchester United, but the Leeds midfielder would snub the Red Devils due to his loyalty to Leeds and would rather fancy a move to Liverpool who are also keen to sign the midfielder.

Phillips has improved tenfold under Bielsa and was a standout in the Euros for England and it is said that Jurgen Klopp likes what he sees from the midfielder. Phillips is out with an injury and won’t be back for the new year, he will most likely finish the season with Leeds and possibly move on after that. Phillips has played 12 games and has 1 assist this season for Leeds.

Phillips could become the first Leeds player in a long list of many that could crack the £100,000-a-week wage if he signs a new contract. 90 min is reporting that Phillips would be willing to sign a new long-term deal with Leeds if his wage demands are met as many on the roster are not making what other players in the Premier League earn.

Nonetheless Phillips has interest from 4 big Premier League clubs in Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, here is Phillips chances to play for those big-time sides.

Manchester United

Phillips would be a good role player for ManU, who have begun to polish their squad and could always use a role player to fill in for injured players and suspensions. Phillips would have to fight for playing time at United.

Manchester City

Same situation as in Manchester United, although City has more players coming and out and maybe Phillips could find a place in the starting 11. Philipps would have major competition for playing time, it would be a matter of staying consistent which he has been with Leeds.

Chelsea

Chelsea is stacked in midfield and Phillips would need to make the most of his playing opportunities. Like United and City, Chelsea would be an uphill struggle but again he could play a major role off the bench.

Liverpool

Liverpool seems like a club where Kalvin Phillips could find more consistent playing time; it’s a starting 11 he could crack. Liverpool is deep in midfield but it’s not an impossible challenge for Phillips.

The Citizens know their Premier League crown could be at risk this season with amighty Manchester United – boosted by Cristiano Ronaldo, a powerful Chelsea,Liverpool, and Tottenham all in contention for the title.

Pep Guardiola‘s boys have welcomed English star Jack Grealish to their ranks but their rivals have strengthened themselves a lot, something that could be dangerous not only this year but in the long term. Therefore, City would set their sights on a league figurefor next season.

Man City reportedly interested in Premier League star valued at €30m

Over the last few years, theygot used to succeed. But Manchester City know they need to rotate every once in a while to keep on fighting at the top. That explains why they had to bid farewell to club legend Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero last season, for instance.

Andeventually, they’ll have to find a dependable replacement for veteran defensive midfield Fernandinho, who runs out of contract on June 2022. According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Manchester City target Leeds United and England international Kalvin Phillips.

The holding midfield thrived ever since Marcelo Bielsa took the reins of the team back in 2018, earning a national team call-up and helping the Whites reaching a long-awaited return to the English first tier.

Now, he might be ready to take the next step in his career. The report claims he could be sold for €30 million, something that seems more than plausible for Manchester City. Phillips is under contract until 2024 at Elland Road but if the Citizens are serious about their intentions, they shouldn’t have much problem landinghim.

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