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Kalvin Phillips transfer would leave Aston Villa with 'absolutely crazy' options in midfield - Ty Bracey
Ty Bracey believes Kalvin Phillips would leave Unai Emery with absolutely crazy midfield options next season if Aston Villa were to land the Manchester City midfielder in the summer transfer window.
Phillips, 27, only signed for Pep Guardiola’s side last summer from Leeds United but has struggled to impact proceedings at the Etihad Stadium since, amassing a meagre 65 minutes of Premier League action.
According to Football Insider, Aston Villa have a strong interest in the 26-capped England international, who City value at around £45million, with Emery wanting to add a top-class midfielder to his ranks in the summer.
Such a fee would require the club to break their £33million record transfer fee that they spent on ex-Norwich City man Emi Beundia in 2021.
Phillips’ decline at Manchester City has been a shock to see this term after several successful years at Elland Road under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Aston Villa podcaster Ty Bracey admitted that a move for Phillips would be a game-changer for Villa and could leave Emery with a very healthy selection dilemma.
“I definitely wouldn’t say no to Phillips,” he said.
“But then that leaves you with three people – excluding Dendoncker and Chambers – that leaves Kamara, Luiz and Kalvin Phillips as first-team options.
“And to have those three in defensive midfield would be crazy, absolutely crazy for Villa.
“Emery would have some tough decisions to make on who to play, but it would be a game-changer for Villa’s midfield.
“I would take him all day, I know he has been out of favour at Manchester City, but I don’t think he has had the best of luck with injuries, and Guardiola has so much quality to choose from in that position.
“Those injuries as well are for the medical team to decide on when the time comes.
“So I would take Kalvin Phillips for sure.”
After a relatively quiet winter window, in which Villa signed Jhon Duran and Alex Moreno, Emery is expected to be awarded a war chest by Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris, especially if the Spaniard manages to secure European football next season. [Birmingham Mail]
Midfield has quickly become one of the club’s first-choice priorities after the injury to Boubacar Kamara highlighted the glaring lack of alternative options in the middle of the park.
At the moment, John McGinn, Leander Dendoncker and versatile defender Calum Chambers are Emery’s only other options away from his regular starting duo.
In other Aston Villa news, the club has been told to seal the re-signing of an expensive player amid transfer news.