Premier League giants ‘likely to part ways’ with £42m Newcastle United and Everton target

Newcastle United could be handed an opportunity to land one long-term transfer target when the January transfer window.

The Magpies were believed to be keen on securing a deal for England midfielder Kalvin Phillips last summer before the then-Leeds United midfielder opted to join Premier League champions Manchester City in a £42m deal.

However, things have not worked out as planned at the Etihad Stadium, with the form of Rodri and injury issues limiting Phillips to just five starts in all competitions as his side claimed a historic treble during his first season with Pep Guardiola’s side. The 27-year-old was handed a chance to shine in City’s recent Carabao Cup tie at Newcastle and he was issued with a challenge by his manager ahead of the St James Park clash.

“We brought Kalvin here for his quality,” said Guardiola ahead of the trip to Tyneside.

“There are no twins in football, everyone has their own personality. Marcelo Bielsa gave Kalvin the best of Kalvin in his career at Leeds. I’d love to have done with Kalvin what Marcelo has done to him. It is what it is.

“We have our own specific way to play, sometimes we struggle in a few things, when the previous one was perfect. But Kalvin is open-minded, he always wants to learn, wants to help and this is what we want to try to do. He decided to stay this summer, the club spoke with him and even for the fact he didn’t have many minutes, he said ‘No, I want to stay’. If he wants to stay, it’s okay, it’s perfect - he’s a lovely person.”

Phillips failed to make a major impact as an Alexander Isak goal ended City’s Carabao Cup run before it had even started and he was back among the substitute for a Premier League defeat at Wolves days later before failing to come off the bench in Sunday’s loss at Arsenal.

iNews have now claimed City are ‘increasingly likely to part ways’ with Phillips during the January transfer window and revealed Newcastle made an enquiry for the midfielder ‘early in the close season’.

West Ham United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Everton were also said to have shown interest, with the latter’s interest remaining alive after they ‘assessed the viability of a loan move’.