Manchester City have agreed a deal worth £45m for Leeds midfielder Kalvin Phillips, 90min can confirm.
The 26-year-old has emerged as City’s top midfield transfer target in recent weeks, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his options in the middle of the park.
After weeks of negotiations, 90min understands that a fee has now been agreed with Leeds and a deal should be completed by Monday. The makeup of the deal will see City pay £45m overall, with £3m of that figure made up of bonus payments.
90min revealed at the start of June that City were carrying out background checks on Phillips, to ensure he’d be a good fit in the dressing room, and sources have confirmed that the club feel he has the ‘perfect character’ to succeed at the highest level.
The Premier League champions have already completed the signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, and it’s likely the pair will soon be joined at the Etihad Stadium by Brighton & Hove Albion full-back Marc Cucurella.
Listen now to 90min’s Talking Transfers podcast, with Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey, Harry Symeou & Toby Cudworth. On the latest show they discuss Newcastle’s decision to pull out of a deal for Hugo Ekitike and offer the latest on Arsenal’s pursuit of Gabriel Jesus. Available on all audio platforms and the 90min YouTube channel.
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The Spaniard enjoyed a tremendous debut season in England and 90min understands that City are making good progress in talks with the Seagulls.
As for Phillips, he’s currently away on holiday after playing for England in the recent Nations League fixtures, but will join up with City’s squad upon his return.
A graduate from Leeds’ academy, Phillips departs Elland Road after making 234 appearances in all competitions. The highlight of his career at the club was undoubtedly gaining promotion to the Premier League under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, with his form during that season helping him earn a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
Phillips featured heavily at Euro 2020, but his 2021/22 campaign was disrupted by injury – he made just 20 Premier League appearances for Leeds as the club narrowly avoided relegation.
