Wolves Show Interest in Phillips as January Transfer Window Closes

In a recent article by the Daily Mail, it has been reported that Phillips is attracting interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers, currently at the bottom of the Premier League table, as the winter transfer market approaches its closure on Monday, February 2.

The report indicates that Wolves have been long-time admirers of the defensive midfielder and are exploring the possibility of bringing him to their squad. This interest comes in light of central midfielders Joao Gomes and Andre facing potential departures.

Rob Edwards’ side, who have been performing commendably with an impressive five-game unbeaten streak across the Premier League and FA Cup, values Phillips’ experience in top-flight football as they strive to close the gap on their relegation-threatened competitors.

Since joining Manchester City for a reported fee of £42 million (€48m/$56m) from Leeds United in the summer of 2022, Phillips has found himself lower in the team hierarchy. After making 21 appearances during his inaugural season, he featured only 10 times in the subsequent season and spent six months on loan at West Ham United, a tenure marked by a clash with supporters.

Contracted to City until 2028, Phillips spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season on loan at Ipswich Town, where he made 22 appearances and scored one goal as the team faced relegation back to the Championship.

In his only appearance this season, Phillips came off the bench as City secured a 2-0 victory against Huddersfield Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup in September.

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Phillips played a pivotal role in helping England reach the final of Euro 2020 but received criticism from City manager Pep Guardiola, who described him as “overweight” upon his return from the 2022 World Cup. Two years later, Guardiola apologized, stating, “I’m sorry. [A mistake] once in eight years is not bad. But I’m so sorry. I apologise to him.”

Phillips later reflected on Guardiola’s comments, expressing that they were challenging to accept. In 2023, he stated, “For me, I wasn’t overweight, but obviously the manager has seen it in a very different way. I just took it and did my best to get as fit as possible.”

As for Phillips’ future, it remains uncertain, especially as City focuses on recovering from a recent shock defeat in the Champions League to Bodo/Glimt. City is set to host Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday, aiming to improve their standings.

Following a surprising 3-1 defeat, City finds themselves in 11th place and must work diligently to qualify for the Champions League last 16. Guardiola expressed frustration, saying, “We have to change the dynamic quickly for the next game against Wolves and then the last game against Galatasaray. Everything that can go wrong is going wrong in many, many details.”

Adding to their challenges, City was also defeated 2-0 by rivals Manchester United last Saturday, leaving them seven points behind title contenders Arsenal.