Midfielder to make Manchester City return next week following season-ending injury | OneFootball

Manchester City are expected to welcome back Kalvin Phillips to the City Football Academy following a largely disastrous loan spell at West Ham United.

The England international left the Etihad Stadium operation in search of improved game time during the recent January transfer window, with Gareth Southgate’s European Championships squad due to be selected in the coming weeks.

Despite talk of interest from the likes of Liverpool and Juventus, it was West Ham and David Moyes who emerged as the best destination for Phillips to revive his career after a challenging opening year and a half with Manchester City.

However, a string of in-game mistakes and lack of consistent game time as a result at the London Stadium left Kalvin Phillips in a similar position to his status at the Etihad Stadium, whilst injury has now forced an end to his time in claret and blue.

As per the information of the Evening Standard’s Malik Ouzia, Kalvin Phillips is now expected to return to Manchester City at the start of next week to continue his rehabilitation following a calf injury sustained with West Ham.

That process will come ahead of an increasingly uncertain upcoming transfer window for Phillips, with both City and West Ham initially open to including an option to buy as part of the loan in January, but failed to agree on terms, according to the report.

Manchester City are highly likely to recruit for a direct replacement for Kalvin Phillips during the upcoming transfer market, whilst simultaneously hoping to secure a deal to send the Englishman away from the club on a permanent agreement.

Leeds United have been tipped as a possible destination for Phillips should the Elland Road club secure promotion back into the Premier League, with the Yorkshire side finding themselves in a two-legged play-off semi-final.

Elsewhere, low-ranking sides in the Premier League may also find themselves interested, however Phillips’ Manchester City wages and salary expectations could prove to be a stumbling block in any arrangement.