According to The Athletic, Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips will become the Citizens’ third signing of the summer, following Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland. The Englishman was the Citizens’ preferred candidate to replace the outgoing Fernandinho, who left the club after nine upon the conclusion of the 2021/22 season.
The Citizens will pay Leeds an initial fee of 42 million pounds to sign the 26-year-old, with add-ons potentially taking the total package to 45 million.
Born in Leeds, Phillips joined the club’s academy in 2010 before graduating to the first team four years later. The midfielder struggled initially but enjoyed an early career renaissance under new manager Marcelo Bielsa, who converted him into a deep-lying playmaker to great effect.
His form for his club side brought about an international call-up in 2020; he has made 23 appearances for the Three Lions since and was named England’s Men’s Player of the Year for the season 2020/21.
Meanwhile, Leeds had already prepared for the departure of their star player by signing Spaniard Marc Roca from Bayern Munich earlier this summer. Furthermore, the Whites will also use the channel between themselves and City to sign youngster Darko Gyabi in a separate deal, believed to be worth 5 million.
As per The Guardian, City have also reached a verbal agreement with German goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who will leave Arminia Bielefeld upon the expiration of his contract this summer. The German shone for the Bundesliga side throughout their two-year stint and was linked with several top sides following their relegation after the end of the 2021/22 season.
Manchester City will bring Ortega in as a free agent but only if a suitor can be found for the current backup goalkeeper Zack Steffen. The USA international has been restricted to cup games for City due to the form of Ederson and has lost his place in the national team to Arsenal-bound Matt Turner.
