It does not sound like Kalvin Phillips is even considering a move to Newcastle United this summer.
The Manchester City midfielder has been linked with a move away from Etihad after a difficult first season under Pep Guardiola. While it ended with him winning the treble, they would have done it just as easily without him.
Phillips really struggled for minutes during his first year at Man City, leading to speculation he could leave.
That piqued Newcastle’s interest, who looked into a possible loan deal for the 27-year-old. However, they did not get the response they wanted, much to their frustration.
The Magpies were told that Phillips wants to stay where he is, which he later hinted at himself following the most recent international break.
But talk over a loan move to Newcastle has continued, and now the £42million man has reaffirmed his desire to continue his Manchester City career into next season.
Kalvin Phillips wants to stay at Manchester City
Phillips has spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about his Man City career, and admitted that he hopes next season is much better – heavily implying that he will be staying put.
I spoke to quite a few of the lads about their first season at City, about when they joined and how difficult they found it,” he said.
“They said exactly the same things… that it takes at least 12 months to really understand what the manager wants you to do, the way he wants you to play and how he wants you to work.
“But I knew that anyway. I have been friends with Jack [Grealish] for a long, long time. I spoke to him last year when I was struggling to make it into the team and he was just saying he understands – the first season at City is always difficult.
“Hopefully next season is a lot better for me and I am just looking forward to getting my head down, seeing the lads again and getting the season under way.”
Newcastle are wasting their time
Every word that Phillips says hints that he is staying at Manchester City.
He even seems to be optimistic that his fortunes will change this season after speaking to some of his teammates who also struggled in their first year under Guardiola.
The England international is willing to stick it out and fight for his place, which is absolutely commendable.
However, that does mean that Newcastle need to end their interest. The club need to forget about signing Phillips, and take their midfield search elsewhere.
The Magpies have made a real effort to sign players who want to join the club, but that isn’t the case for Phillips. He wants to be at Man City.
Eddie Howe wants another midfielder after Sandro Tonali, but Phillips has made it very clear that it is not going to be him.
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