The goal came from a penalty kick by Alexander Isak for Newcastle United. With seven games without a victory and the dismissal of their beloved manager Steve Cooper, Nottingham Forest was undoubtedly doomed to more suffering.
Nevertheless, what looked to be a glorious day at St. James’ Park was ruined by Newcastle’s poor play, and the only consolation was when Chris Wood returned to torment his old team with a well-executed hat-trick.
Newcastle’s management are optimistic that a deal can be made to buy Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips for a temporary loan that will last the rest of the 2023–24 season, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The Profit and Sustainability regulations are a barrier that prevents the Magpies from adding significant players to their roster this winter, despite their strong desire to do so. With his work ethic and Premier League experience, Phillips would be able to leave the Etihad Stadium on loan. Howe and United’s technical director Dan Ashworth were trying to finalize a deal as soon as possible.
The club is “set to open talks” to sign their top target, according to transfer guru Rudy Galetti, although it’s appropriate that attempts be made early to obtain his services given Juventus’s strong desire for a deal.
Many elite European teams took notice of Phillips after he sparkled with Leeds United and helped his boyhood club ascend from the Championship and make a magnificent return to the Premier League.
The 28-year-old couldn’t resist the temptation of English football’s elite team and sealed a £45 million transfer when Manchester City called in 2022.
Nevertheless, a fantastic acquisition became a nightmare as injuries prevented the £150,000-per-week star from establishing himself as a regular starter. In the end, the player would only start four games during the 2022–2023 season as the Sky Blues won the treble.
Even though Phillips completed a full preseason this summer, his situation has not improved, and he is still stuck on the periphery of one of the best teams in English football. Even though Phillips completed a full preseason this summer, his situation has not improved, and he is still stuck on the periphery of one of the best teams in English football.
Pragmatism is often a virtue, and it appears that everyone has agreed that Phillips would benefit from a change of scenery, something Newcastle is more than willing to grant. When playing at his best, Kalvin Phillips is a tenacious and well-mannered midfielder with a wide range of skills suitable for supporting a team such as Newcastle United’s quest for continental qualifying.
The 31-cap England player was outstanding as Leeds finished ninth in the Premier League in 2020–21 after making a comeback. They captivated fans with their aggressive play and won them over with their passion and expressiveness. That season, he made 29 appearances, totaling 2.6 tackles, 1.6 interceptions, 1.7 clearances, and 85% of his passes completed. Henry Winter of The Times was amazed by his versatile skill set.
Philips is in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, the top 2% for passes attempted, the top 9% for shots taken, the top 7% for clearances, and the top 19% for aerial wins per ninety. These statistics are based on FBref.
Even though Phillips hasn’t played much in the last 12 months, these numbers do show how poised and sharp Phillips is Former Crystal Palace star Yannick Bolasie once called Phillips a “monster” of a midfielder. Despite Phillips’ inability to produce under Pep Guardiola’s coaching, he is still an excellent player, and he would be a credit to Newcastle’s outstanding team. He might even combine with Bruno Guimaraes in the center to resurrect the team’s success.
Consider Mario Guimares and Kalvin Phillips although Howe is the driving force behind Newcastle’s incredible ascent to prominence following the PIF takeover in 2021, Guimaraes, a midfielder for Lyon, cost £40 million and has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most impactful signings in recent memory. The Brazilian is considered one of the division’s top players after accumulating 84 appearances for Newcastle, where he has scored 11 goals and provided nine assists. Teammate Dan Burn has even referred to him as “world-class” for his abilities.
The 26-year-old is the ideal center orchestrator, ranking in the top 16% of midfielders for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive passes, and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90. However, Sandro Tonali was brought in the summer to balance out his style, and after finding it difficult to adjust, the Italian was suspended from football for ten months in October due to breaking betting regulations.
Although Newcastle will likely need to add a few players to address the injury situation, Phillips’ availability on a loan provides a great chance to execute a smart trade, and Howe needs to make sure this one goes through.