---
title: "Manchester City: Txiki ready to pursue Kalvin Phillips"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-sign-kalvin-phillips-txiki-leeds-fernandinho/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Will Seager"
section: "Manchester City News"
published: "2022-05-25T06:10:27Z"
modified: "2022-05-25T06:10:27Z"
---

# Manchester City: Txiki ready to pursue Kalvin Phillips

**[Manchester City](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/) are ‘expected to pursue’ a deal for Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, claims Daily Mail journalist Jack Gaughan.**

### **The Lowdown: Fernandinho’s departure**

After [nine years at the Etihad](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fernandinho/profil/spieler/26267), club captain Fernandinho is set to return to Brazil with a move [back to Athletico Paranaense.](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10847059/Manchester-City-identify-Leeds-star-Kalvin-Phillips-candidate-replace-Fernandinho.html)

The 37-year-old said his goodbyes during Monday’s [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) title parade after winning his [14th trophy with the Sky Blues](https://m.aiscore.com/player-fernandinho/9oj7x9i5lmhg7g3/trophies).

The defensive midfielder amassed [383 appearances for City](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fernandinho/leistungsdaten/spieler/26267), scoring 26 goals and producing 33 assists during this time.

[Man City latest developments!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/man-city-latest-developments-3/)

### **The Latest: Phillips the perfect target**

With Fernandinho’s departure, City have set their sights on signing a new central midfielder.

According to a report by the [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10847059/Manchester-City-identify-Leeds-star-Kalvin-Phillips-candidate-replace-Fernandinho.html), Leeds star Kalvin Phillips tops the list of potential replacements. The 26-year-old has been identified as having the ‘[perfect profile](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10847059/Manchester-City-identify-Leeds-star-Kalvin-Phillips-candidate-replace-Fernandinho.html)‘ for the position.

Daily Mail journalist Jack Gaughan also shared the news to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Jack_Gaughan/status/1528855469376557056), claiming: *“Man City expected to pursue deal for Kalvin Phillips over the coming weeks”.*

\[freshpress-quiz id=”383395″\]

### **The Verdict: Great signing**

With previous reports [linking West Ham ace Declan Rice with a move to the Etihad](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10746977/Declan-Rice-Man-City-join-Man-Utd-race-100m-rated-West-Ham-midfielder-summer.html), the news that City are interested in his England midfield-partner hardly comes as a surprise.

With Fernandinho’s departure, it is necessary for director of football Txiki Begiristain to dip into the transfer market and sort a replacement, given the Brazilian’s importance to Pep Guardiola’s side.

Therefore, if City can convince Leeds to sell their [‘powerful’](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-kalvin-phillips-news-18032231?cmpredirect=) midfielder for the right price, this will be a great signing for the Cityzens and possibly a cheaper one than Rice.

***In other news: [Manchester City: Danny Mills makes Declan Rice transfer claim](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/manchester-city-danny-mills-makes-declan-rice-transfer-claim/)***