Newcastle United, following their relegation from the Champions League, have designated Kalvin Phillips as their top priority for the January transfer window, as per insider sources.
Eddie Howe’s team was ousted from the group stage after a 2-1 defeat at home to AC Milan. Their focus will now shift entirely towards securing a top-four position as they won’t participate in European football until Christmas.
Injuries have plagued Newcastle this season, compounded by the ten-month ban imposed on defensive midfielder Sandro Tonali for breaching the Italian FA’s betting regulations. Consequently, Phillips has been identified as the potential solution to fill this void, despite scoring his first goal for Manchester City in their recent win against Crvena Zvezda.
Pep Guardiola expressed regret to Phillips for his limited game time, admitting his reduced minutes in the team. However, despite speculation about Phillips leaving in January, Howe denied any agreement on a contract for the 28-year-old, clarifying that talks were not advanced.
Meanwhile, Turkish outlet A Haber (via Sport Witness) suggests that Galatasaray might propose a loan move for Sergio Gomez in January.
Gomez, like Phillips, has encountered limited playing time this season, appearing for only 255 minutes across all competitions. The 23-year-old might seek a departure from Etihad Stadium to secure more consistent game time.
Galatasaray, having qualified for the Europa League knockout stages, aim to strengthen their squad in January and have displayed interest in securing Gomez on loan until 2025.
