Kalvin Phillips has travelled to West Ham to undergo a medical before completing a loan move from Manchester City until the end of the season.
The England international has played just 123 minutes for City in the Premier League this season and not featured since the 6-1 thrashing of Bournemouth in early November.
Read our other sports news stories here:
Australian Open day 13: preview and prediction
Jaiswal puts India on top against England
City sign Argentine Echeverri
Phillips is eager to increase his playing time to ensure he is part of Gareth Southgate’s plans for this summer’s European Championship.
City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s FA Cup fourth-round clash at Tottenham, said: “It is still not completely done but he travelled yesterday to do medical tests.
“It is six months and hopefully he gets the minutes he deserves that I have not been able to give him. [He is an] exceptional human being.”
Phillips has been a peripheral figure ever since his move from Leeds in the summer of 2022 and Guardiola admitted he felt regret over not being able to give the 28-year-old more opportunities.
“Yes of course,” he said. “If I give him 10-15 games in a row he will play good but I did not give him that. I have [other] players in the squad and decide [how] we are looking for different things.
“I can only say how grateful I am for his behaviour off the pitch and hopefully he can get the minutes and next season we will see what happens.
“I wish him all the best for his short time in London.”
PEP 💬 Tomorrow he [Erling Haaland] is still not ready but he is close. Some training sessions last two days. PIC.TWITTER.COM/D1IRLWSBKJ
— Manchester City (@ManCity) JANUARY 25, 2024
Although City are set to lose one player from their squad, another is set to return with striker Erling Haaland back in training following a foot injury.
Haaland has not played since the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa in December and, while he won’t feature at Spurs, Guardiola is confident the Norway international will be back soon.
“He is on the verge to come back,” added Guardiola, who will also be without Manuel Akanji for the trip to London but is boosted by the return of John Stones and Ederson.
“Still not ready for tomorrow but he is close. He trained, is not perfect and we will wait a little bit more.”
