Kalvin Phillips set for Premier League transfer with two clubs circling as Man City prepare to offload him in January

KALVIN PHILLIPS looks set to depart Manchester City in January, according to reports.

The midfielder has struggled for game time under Pep Guardiola.

Kalvin Phillips has struggled for game time at Man CityRex

Even in the absence of suspended Rodri in recent weeks, the City boss has instead turned to teenager Rico Lewis rather than Phillips.

The former Leeds ace was an unused substitute as the Premier League champions lost 1-0 at Arsenal on Sunday.

According The I, Phillips is likely to head out on loan in January.

Plenty of Premier League sides have shown an interest in the England international.

Everton could look to swoop should their proposed takeover by 777 Partners go through.

Newcastle, meanwhile, enquired for Phillips in the summer.

West Ham, Liverpool and Bayern Munich also showed varying degrees of interest.

Last month, Guardiola said of Phillips: “I’d love to have done with Kalvin what Marcelo [Bielsa] has done to him.

“We have our own specific way to play and [he] sometimes struggles in a few things, while the previous [Leeds playing style] was perfect [for him].”

Phillips has played just 70 minutes of City’s opening eight Premier League matches this term, failing to start any.

He has featured in a further seven minutes in the Champions League, while he started City’s 1-0 League Cup defeat at Newcastle.

Phillips, 27, snubbed a potential summer move away from City to fight for his place.

But he has so far been unable to hold down a regular spot.

Guardiola added: “The club spoke with him because he did not have many minutes. He said ‘no, I want to stay’.

“We brought Kalvin here for his quality. He is open minded, always wants to learn and wants to help. This is what we want to try to do.”