WOLVES OPEN FORMAL TALKS WITH MANCHESTER CITY TO SIGN MIDFIELDER KALVIN PHILLIPS
Wolves explore a January move for Kalvin Phillips as Joao Gomes agrees a Napoli deal. Can the Man City man revive his career?
Kalvin Phillips, who once anchored England’s midfield, looks set for a lifeline out of Manchester City this January. Wolves want him, according to reports, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why. Phillips has barely featured for City this season—just one appearance under Pep Guardiola—and he’s been on the fringes for a while now.
The Daily Mail says Wolves have had their eye on Phillips for some time. They’re trying to pull off a deal before the transfer window shuts on February 2. With Joao Gomes and Andre attracting attention from other clubs, Wolves need reinforcements in midfield. They value Phillips’ Premier League experience, and with their recent five-game unbeaten streak, they’re hoping to pull away from the bottom of the table.
Phillips’ City story never really got off the ground. After his £42 million move from Leeds in 2022, he played 21 times in his first season but then saw his minutes dry up. He managed only 10 appearances the next year before heading out on loan to West Ham—a rough stint that saw him clash with the fans.
After that, City loaned him to Ipswich Town for the entire 2024-25 season. He played 22 games and scored once, but Ipswich went straight back down to the Championship. This season at City, Phillips has only come off the bench once, helping them see out a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Huddersfield.
And then there’s Guardiola’s public criticism. Right after the 2022 World Cup, the city boss called Phillips “overweight”. Guardiola later apologised, saying he regretted how he handled it, insisting he always speaks to his players first. Phillips said he didn’t agree with Guardiola’s assessment but tried to take it on the chin and get fit. Still, the comment blew up, and he admitted it was tough to shake off. He was back on the bench for Leeds right after and kept himself match-ready, chalking it all up to a misunderstanding.
Now, with Wolves circling and City ready to let him go, Phillips finally has a shot at a fresh start.
CONOR GALLAGHER CONFIRMED AS "VITAL" STARTER FOR SPURS FOLLOWING BENTANCUR’S INJURY LAYOFF
Conor Gallagher proved the doubters wrong against Man City. Discover why his €40m move to Tottenham is finally paying off for Spurs.
Chelsea and Atletico Madrid both decided Conor Gallagher wasn’t worth the trouble. At Chelsea, he had his moments—Pochettino liked him, but the fans never really warmed up. When Chelsea shipped him off to Atletico, it made sense. Enzo Fernandez stepped up, took over Gallagher’s role, and fit in perfectly next to Caicedo, with Cole Palmer adding that extra spark up front.
Things didn’t get much better for Gallagher in Spain. He barely got a chance at Atleti, lost his spot in the starting eleven, and pretty much ended up on the transfer list before anyone had time to blink. Interest was lukewarm at best until the winter window rolled around. Aston Villa wanted him and went after him pretty aggressively, but then Tottenham swooped in late. Spurs needed someone to patch up the midfield after Bentancur’s injury, so they just paid up—40 million euros, no hesitation.
His start at Tottenham? Rough. Honestly, that was to be expected. He’d played well at Palace before, but after his struggles at Atleti, he needed time to adjust. Sitting on the bench in Spain didn’t do him any favours.
Then Gallagher showed up. People doubted whether he could really add creativity and move the ball forward for Spurs, so his early struggles got people worried. But then came the 2-2 draw against Manchester City. He suddenly looked like the player both Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank were so desperate to sign.
Against City, Gallagher flipped the script. He set up a crucial assist, drove play forward on the dribble, and kept drawing fouls—everything the Spurs needed. Defensively, he was all over the place in a good way: two tackles, three interceptions, a full 90 minutes, and a huge part of the Spurs clawing their way back into the game.
Tottenham fans loved it. They saw the effort, the attitude, and the hunger to win. Gallagher just wouldn’t quit, and in that second half, he, Xavi Simons, Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie, and Dominic Solanke ran the show. Four of those guys have been carrying Spurs lately, so Gallagher is fitting right in with them. That’s a pretty good sign he’s going to work out just fine in North London.
AC MILAN MEDICAL FAILURE: THE HIDDEN KNEE INJURY THAT CRUSHED MATETA’S £30M MOVE
Jean-Philippe Mateta's £30m move to AC Milan is OFF. Discover why a failed medical has put his France World Cup dreams in jeopardy.