Dyche might have to wait for Everton midfielder signing as club make pre-season call - report

Everton boss Sean Dyche might have to play a waiting game if he wants to sign Kalvin Phillips after the midfielder was included in Manchester City’s pre-season tour squad, according to Liverpool World.

The outlet reported on 20 July that despite it being “unlikely” that Phillips is in City’s plans for the new campaign, his inclusion on their tour of the USA means the Toffees “might have to wait” to sign him.

City’s official website listed Phillips at the top of their 27-player squad list heading stateside [19 July], but this was due to his low squad number (four) than an indication of his place in Pep Guardiola’s team.

Phillips has rarely featured for City since arriving from Leeds United in July 2022 and, after returning from a disappointing loan spell at West Ham last season, the Toffees have reportedly identified him as one of their top targets [Give Me Sport, 19 July].

Transfer doubt at both ends for Kalvin Phillips and Everton

Had he not been named in City’s pre-season touring squad, the writing on the wall would have been blatantly clear (if it wasn’t already) that Phillips has no part to play for Guardiola’s side going forward.

However, as a member of the City squad who didn’t take part in this summer’s international tournaments, like England team-mate Jack Grealish, Phillips was always likely to be on the plane to the USA.

Once City touch back down in Manchester, the rumour mill will surely be swirling again, but at the other end of this possible transfer, all is not well at Goodison following Dan Friedkin’s collapsed takeover [The Athletic, 19 July].

Phillips’ value has undoubtedly sunk since City paid £45million for him two years ago, but his wages will be high enough the Toffees to identify this as a stumbling block.

Paying over the odds on transfers and wages played a large part in Everton receiving points deductions and being engulfed in relegation battles and, as such, the Blues may not be willing to risk a significant outlay on Phillips until after their precarious financial situation is finally solved.

In other Everton news, Manchester United have submitted a bid in an attempt to hijack Aston Villa’s move for Amadou Onana.

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