Man City target £60m Kalvin Phillips replacement as Liverpool also open talks for midfielder.

Manchester City seeks a replacement for Kalvin Phillips for £60 million, while Liverpool initiates negotiations for the midfielder.According to a new report, Manchester City has identified a replacement for Kalvin Phillips but may face competition from Liverpool.

Phillips, an England international who joined City from Leeds for £45 million eighteen months ago but has failed to earn a starting spot under Pep Guardiola, is scheduled to join West Ham on loan until the end of the current campaign.

Although Phillips has appeared in 31 games across all competitions for the club, he has only begun two Premier League contests in his tenure at City. Since his substitution appearance against Young Boys on December 7, the midfielder has appeared in just two games.

Bolavip, a publication from South America, reports that City are interested in substituting Argentine defensive midfielder Alan Varela for Phillips.The emergence of Varela as a vital player for the Portuguese club Porto has reportedly piqued the interest of multiple clubs.

Bolavip asserts that City is among them, and Liverpool has reportedly already initiated contact with Porto concerning a possible transfer at the conclusion of the current campaign.

Supposedly, Varela is subject to a release clause of £60 million; however, that sum is not likely to present a substantial obstacle for any Premier League club interested in signing the player.

In fact, Liverpool will likely have funds available to acquire a central midfielder, given that the club offered exorbitant prices for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia prior to Chelsea’s acquisitions of both players last summer.This season, Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister have alternated in as defensive midfield substitutes, but it is probable that Klopp will continue his midfield overhaul in the summer.

This season, Liverpool has surpassed all expectations. Klopp has led the club to the Carabao Cup final and into the round of 16 of the Europa League, facilitating a Premier League title challenge following a summer of significant personnel changes.

Notwithstanding a series of injury setbacks, they have achieved notable advancements. Joel Matip is currently sidelined for the season due to a ruptured anterior cruciate knee ligament. Andy Robertson, Kostas Tsimikas, Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic, and Ben Doak are also sidelined with broken collarbones, shoulder dislocations, and knee discomfort, respectively.