Newcastle, seeking midfield reinforcements due to Sandro Tonali’s season-ending ban for betting offenses, expressed interest in Phillips even before learning of Tonali’s suspension. Recent information from intermediaries suggests that Man City is open to allowing Phillips to leave in January.
Financial Fair Play concerns prompt Newcastle to prefer an initial loan, a condition Man City may accept only if it includes a purchase option.
Despite interest from various clubs, including Aston Villa, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Borussia Dortmund, and Juventus, Newcastle appears to be the preferred destination for the 27-year-old Phillips.
While Phillips aimed to make his mark at Man City and return to the fold before Christmas, signs indicate that he doesn’t feature in Pep Guardiola’s long-term plans.
Although Phillips overcame injury challenges from his first season at the Etihad Stadium, he has logged only 215 minutes for Man City this season, starting just one game – a 1-0 loss to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup’s third round.
Despite limited club-level play, Phillips has retained his spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad throughout the season’s three international windows.
Simultaneously, Newcastle is in discussions with Feyenoord about terminating Yankuba Minteh’s loan in January. Minteh, recovering from a hamstring injury in Tyneside, has impressed his parent club with his form in the Netherlands.
