Kalvin Phillips’ experience at Manchester City has raised questions about the rationale behind his initial signing. With the established presence of Rodri as the first-choice defensive midfielder, Phillips has mostly found himself relegated to a bench role under the management of Pep Guardiola. His appearances for Manchester City have been limited, with just one start this season in the EFL Cup match, resulting in a 1-0 loss to Newcastle. In the previous Premier League season, Phillips started two matches for City, hindered by injuries and fitness issues.

Despite the lack of significant game time at the club level, Phillips continues to receive call-ups for international duty with England, demonstrating his value to the national team. He has been a regular starter for the Three Lions, notably featuring in matches against Scotland and Italy during the recent international windows. However, some fans of the England national team have expressed frustration with Gareth Southgate’s favoritism and are advocating for the inclusion of players such as James Ward-Prowse from West Ham.

If Phillips continues to struggle to secure substantial playing time under Pep Guardiola this season, his prospects of representing England might be at risk. It appears that Phillips himself acknowledges this situation, as indicated during his conversation with BBC Sport.

“I know that I need to be playing games and competing every weekend. I’m going to have to make a decision on my City future over the next month. Hopefully my chance comes but if it doesn’t then I will have to make other decisions”.

Having showcased his capabilities as a top midfielder during his time at Leeds in the Premier League, there is a strong possibility that several teams would express interest in acquiring Phillips if he becomes available for transfer. This is particularly plausible if his future with Manchester City becomes increasingly uncertain.