Sport nationGuardiola’s role to play revealed to help Arsenal seal transfer of their most important target after winning the Champions league
Tim Sherwood has spoken about the possibility of West Ham United swapping Arsenal’s transfer target Declan Rice for Manchester City midfielder, Kalvin Phillips.
There is talk that Declan Rice is headed for the exit door this summer, after helping West Ham win the Europa Conference League, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are supposedly the front-runners – the club’s chairman says he has played his ‘final game’.
But Sam Allardyce dropped the transfer grenade that Declan Rice could go to Manchester City, instead of a possible move to Arsenal, as he told No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast.
As that conversation unfolded, it was suggested which player from the current treble-chasers could go the other way.
Well, Sherwood dropped the obvious name of Kalvin Phillips into the hat, who moved to the Etihad for £42 million from Leeds United in the summer (Sky Sports).
He stated that it would be a ‘great move’, but he did make it clear beforehand that he thinks Pep Guardiola will give Phillips ‘the chance to succeed’ next season given his limited game time this term.
“If he (Rice) goes there (Man City), who will be happy going there,” asked Sherwood. “Kalvin Phillips? Pep (Guardiola) will give him a chance to succeed.
On Phillips to West Ham: “Love it. Great move.”
Allardyce added: “If I know Moyesey, then there would have to be a player in the deal for him. It would then be easier for the club that is buying him. It would be over £100 million in total. But it would be so much under that player. That player would be valued at that, which would take it over £100 million. And David would get somebody he really needed.”
Sherwood then claimed: “If Declan goes Man City, for me, he plays centre-half.”
Phillips should look towards Grealish
Man City might be going for the treble and, by the end of Saturday evening, Phillips could have three trophies to his name, but he has hardly played a part and it will feel like that for the England international.
Jack Grealish was in the same boat last season, but he took his game to the next level this term.
That probably gives someone like Phillips hope that he can be in that boat in 12 months, his only issue is that he is fighting Rodri for a starting spot, and whilst Guardiola makes changes galore to his starting XI, the two areas he hardly touches is that defensive midfield role and his goalkeeper.
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