West Ham United are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
The 28-year-old is widely expected to leave the Etihad Stadium during the January transfer window having failed to gain regular first-team football under manager Pep Guardiola.
Phillips is yet to start a Premier League for Man City so far this season and has only started five of his 31 appearances for the club since joining from Leeds United 18 months ago.
The England international still has four-and-a-half years remaining on his Citizens contract, but Guardiola has admitted that he"struggled to see" the midfielder in his first-team plans.
Man City are understood to have given the green light for Phillips to seek pastures new, and a host of clubs from England and abroad have been credited with an interest.
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West Ham, Newcastle United, Everton and Crystal Palace are among the Premier League clubs said to have expressed their interest in Phillips, while Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Juventus have also been linked with the midfielder.
Newcastle in particular have been strongly tipped to secure the services of Phillips, but Financial Fair Play regulations are believed to be restricting their activity in the January transfer market.
David Moyes's West Ham now appear to be leading the race for Phillips's signature, as TEAMtalk reports that the Hammers are in advanced negotiations with Man City over a proposed loan deal.
The report adds that Phillips' representatives at CAA Stellar have held discussions with Man City over lowering their asking price for a loan fee, believed to be around £7m.
Such conversations are said to have opened the door for West Ham to move into pole position to sign Phillips, with Newcastle still not in a financial position to compete.
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West Ham have also moved ahead of Crystal Palace in the race to sign Phillips, and they are discussing a straight loan deal for the midfielder with no obligation to buy.
Phillips will hope to quickly establish himself as a first-team regular under Moyes as he bids to secure his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.
However, the Yorkshireman would most likely face competition from Edson Alvarez, Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse for a place in the Hammers XI.
West Ham currently six sixth in the Premier League table, eight points behind the top four, and they have also advanced to the last 16 of the Europa League, although they were recently eliminated from the FA Cup, losing 1-0 to Bristol City in a third-round replay.
Oliver Thomas
