Bayern Munich are apparently weighing up an approach for out-of-favour Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
With Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic arriving to bolster the Citizens' midfield ranks in the summer, the former Leeds United man remains on the fringes of Pep Guardiola's team.
Phillips's only start this season so far has come in the EFL Cup, and it was a joyless affair for the Englishman, who picked up a yellow card as City lost in the third round to Newcastle United.
Rodri's three-game domestic suspension has not opened the door for Phillips to reignite his City career in the Premier League either, as he has played just 70 minutes of football across three substitute outings.
The 27-year-old was left on the bench for last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, and he was also an unused substitute against RB Leipzig in the Champions League after earning a mere seven minutes against Crvena Zvezda.
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Phillips's contract at the Etihad Stadium runs until the summer of 2028, but the midfielder is allegedly set to make a swift exit from the treble winners amid links with several English clubs.
Arsenal - who poached Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Man City last year - are said to have made Phillips their top midfield target for January, as Mikel Arteta prepares for life without Jorginho.
Newcastle United and Everton have also been credited with an interest in the England international, who is without a goal or assist in 26 games for Guardiola's side and started just two Premier League games in his debut campaign, in which he was also hampered by a shoulder problem.
Despite his underwhelming time at the Etihad, BILD journalist Christian Falk reports that Phillips's name has been brought up in conversations at Bayern regarding a potential winter move.
Given his lack of game time, City are unlikely to be opposed to Phillips's sale for the right price in 2024, although they may wait until the summer before parting ways unless they can bring in a replacement in January.
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Before making the switch to the Etihad, Phillips was an integral figure in Leeds' promotion back to the Premier League and was a consistent starter during England's run to the Euro 2020 final, linking arms with Declan Rice in a formidable midfield pairing.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has remained loyal to the 27-year-old amid his Citizens struggles, calling Phillips up for October's internationals with Australia and Italy on October 13 and 17 respectively.
Bayern's search for a new defensive midfielder is well-documented, and the German champions were on the verge of prising Joao Palhinha away from Fulham in the summer transfer window.
The Portugal international completed his medical tests with Bayern, but Fulham's failure to find a replacement saw a deal collapse at the eleventh hour, and he has since signed a new contract at Craven Cottage.
Bayern could try again for Palhinha next year, but they risk being priced out of a move for the Cottagers enforcer, and Manchester United's Scott McTominay could represent another cheaper alternative.
Ben Knapton
