Manchester City are reportedly prepared to reject offers from Premier League clubs for midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the January transfer window.
The 27-year-old is facing an uncertain future at the Etihad Stadium having failed to nail down a regular place in Pep Guardiola's starting lineup.
Phillips has started only five of his 28 appearances for Man City since joining the club from Leeds United in the summer of 2022, including just one start in seven outings so far this season.
The exceptional form of lynchpin Rodri has contributed to Philips's lack of minutes for the Citizens, while the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, John Stones, Rico Lewis and Bernardo Silva have also been preferred in midfield ahead of the Yorkshireman.
Phillips still has five years remaining on his contract at the Etihad, but the midfielder stated last month that he may look to leave the club in January if his game time does not improve in the coming weeks, while Guardiola has also refused to rule out a winter-window departure for Man City's No.4.
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A recent report claims that Serie A giants Juventus have opened talks with Man City over taking Phillips on a potential loan deal in January.
Several Premier League clubs have also been credited with an interest in Phillips including Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Everton and West Ham United.
However, according to the Daily Mail, via the Manchester Evening News, Man City are reluctant to entertain offers for Phillips from Premier League teams.
The Citizens are said to have no interest in strengthening any of their top-flight rivals by either loaning or selling Phillips – who is allegedly valued at £50m – midway through the campaign, especially Arsenal and Liverpool who could challenge Guardiola's side for the title this season.
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Such rumours seemingly boost the hopes of Juventus and other European clubs including Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the race to sign Phillips.
A recent report claims that Real Madrid have been offered the chance to sign the England international in January, although it remains to be seen whether Los Blancos will be active in the winter-window transfer market.
It is thought that Real Madrid may look to hold off from strengthening their squad midway through the campaign to save up funds for a summer pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.
Meanwhile, Bayern are known to be in the market for a new defensive midfielder, with Phillips understood to be on of a number of names on their shortlist.
The German giants may reignite their interest in Fulham's Joao Palhinha, though, after his proposed move to the Allianz Arena fell through at the eleventh hour of the summer transfer window.
Oliver Thomas
