Ipswich have confirmed arrangements for a seasonal loan contract with Manchester City, taking on Kalvin Phillips in hopes of reviving his football career with the fresh Premier League incumbents. The English international needs consistent game time, following a disappointing two years at City, including a lacklustre loan period at West Ham this past year. Kieran McKenna has offered him an opportunity to restart his career, viewing his addition as a notable step in structuring a team capable of championing the top league.
Phillips is scheduled to be in Ipswich for a health check on Thursday with the deal expected to be finalised soon, potentially allowing his inclusion in the team lineup versus Liverpool at Portman Road on Saturday. Thisbout matches their initial Premier League game since 2002. Having secured two successive promotions to reach the top league again, they have vowed to be ambitious in the transfer market.
A record £20 million (€23 million) transfer for Chelsea’s forward Omari Hutchinson is the highlight of their six recent signings to date. However, the transfer of Phillips, who boasts 31 caps for the national team, will surely turn heads beyond Suffolk.
Clubs such as Everton and Fulham have expressed interest in Phillips, who had a successful pre-season tour with City in the US, impressively adapting to a central defence position. Despite four more years on his City contract, it’s been clear for a while that his future lies elsewhere, largely due to coach Pep Guardiola’s perceived uncertainty about his technical abilities for City’s playstyle. Guardiola was famously critical in December 2022, stating that Phillips had returned from the World Cup out of shape. Phillips has played 31 games for City, kicking off just six of them.
McKenna is optimistic about reviving the talent that made Phillips a sensation as a Leeds player. At 28, he was key in England reaching the Euro 2020 final and he may just need a change of form at Ipswich to re-energise his international career. His last international game was as a substitute in a draw against North Macedonia last November, and he was not selected for the Euro 2024 team.
In pursuing other transfers, Ipswich have faced both triumphs and disappointments. There is a need for more strength in their forward line and they are currently in an ongoing negotiation to acquire Sammie Szmodics, Blackburn’s international actor from the Republic of Ireland.
Brighton have finalised the recruitment of Brajan Gruda from Mainz for £25 million (€29 million) and have triggered the £40 million (€46 million) buyout clause of Leeds’ striker Georginio Rutter. Gruda, who is part of the German Under-21 squad, agreed to a four-year contract with Brighton, according to new manager Fabian Hürzeler, after the 20-year-old’s performances in the Bundesliga caught his attention.
Hürzeler described Gruda as an atypical German player, referring to him as a “street boy”, who loves having the ball at his feet and is able to execute unique moves like their other offensive players. He reminded supporters that Gruda is still very young and will need time to adjust to the Premier League’s highly competitive environment. He confirmed that Brighton will support him in transitioning and getting prepared for the Premier League.
Brighton, having activated Rutter’s release clause, expect to finalise his signing. The France Under-21 forward will now decide where his future lies. Hürzeler hinted that if the fit is right, the deal might go through, but he refrained from making any definitive comments.
Brighton has also announced that their new acquisition, Ibrahim Osman, will be loaned out to Feyenoord for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Napoli’s Jens Cajuste, a player once in talks with Brentford before the deal fell apart, remains a potential loan target. Whether they pursue temporary contracts with him and Phillips is yet to be determined.