A bold move! Man City misfit Kalvin Phillips 'offers himself' to Barcelona after nightmare West Ham loan spell

City paid £42 million ($53.41m) for the England international, hoping he would bring his midfield prowess to the Etihad. However, his time at the club has been far from successful. Phillips made only 10 appearances for City this season, failing to secure a regular spot in Pep Guardiola's lineup. His lack of impact prompted a loan move to West Ham United in January, but this decision did not yield the desired results. His underwhelming performances at the London Stadium saw him consigned to the role of a bench warmer and his struggles have also led to his omission from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming European Championships in Germany.

According to the Spanish publication Sport, the midfielder had expressed his willingness to join Barcelona to revive his career. He had initially wanted to join them in January but the club's financial constraints prevented the completion of the deal. Phillips believes that Barcelona's style of football would suit him perfectly, and he remains keen on making the move to La Liga.

City are reportedly open to selling Phillips for around €30 million (£25.53m/$32.46m). However, given his form, a straightforward sale might not be feasible. Phillips is eager to join a Champions League club and would prefer to leave England if the right opportunity arises. Barcelona are aware of Phillips' interest but their immediate focus is on addressing their financial issues before making a concrete move.

Barcelona's primary target in the midfield remains Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich. The German international has yet to agree on a contract renewal with Bayern, and Barcelona are closely monitoring the situation. Kimmich is also drawing interest from other top clubs, including Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain. If Kimmich decides not to renew his contract with Bayern, the German club may opt to sell him to avoid losing him on a free transfer in 2025. For Barcelona, securing Kimmich would be a significant boost, but the club's financial limitations mean they must carefully navigate the market.

Meanwhile, a return to Leeds is also on the cards for Phillips. However, he is prioritizing opportunities that align with his ambition to compete at the highest level in Europe and hence a move to Camp Nou appeals to him the most.