Man City wanted a £7.5million loan fee for midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the most recent summer window, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.
Everton enquired about taking the 28-year-old on loan in the off-season but City told the Merseysiders they wanted all of his wages covered – as well as the £7.5million loan fee.
Phillips was reluctant to join the Toffees in any case – and the deal never got off the ground.
But City’s demands demonstrate a loan deal for the England star will be far from cheap for interested clubs in the January transfer window.
It is believed he is free to leave Man City in the upcoming winter window, but a six-month temporary deal is likely to be very expensive for his suitors.
Newcastle, Tottenham and Juventus are among the top sides ready to do battle to take Phillips on loan in January.
He is surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium after limited action so far in the 2023-24 campaign.
The 28-year-old has played nine times this season, scoring once in 305 total minutes of action for the treble-winners.
Phillips has not managed to crack Pep Guardiola’s first-choice starting eleven since completing a reported £45million move from Leeds United in 2022.
Speaking recently, City boss Guardiola insisted he is “so sorry” for Phillips’ continued exclusion but maintained he “cannot see” the midfielder breaking into his side.
The ex-Leeds star remains a regular fixture for England and will be keen to play regular first-team football in the second half of this season ahead of the European Championships next summer.
In other news, Man City scouts blown away by La Liga sensation.
