Kalvin Phillips | Joins City on a 6-year deal

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Oh dear, I strongly suspect his wife is busy booking her own holiday somewhere else, it won't be much fun spending the next 2 weeks on a beach listening to him rant.

Love to be on holiday with him

 

[BlueMedic]

In the position he plays there aren't exactly exciting signings, but an English international, heading into his peak years, with proven PL pedigree, for a reasonable transfer fee (given the market and his nationality) - it's a good signing on paper. Just need to see how fans of other clubs have responded, and it seems to be along the lines of "how is this transfer that cheap" to show its looked at as a good bit of business from the outside.

Time to support him and see how he gets on for us - wouldn't surprise me if he ends up doing a lot better than some on here seem to expect.

 

[Larry Stranger]

Decent signing. Bielsa is like doing your A levels before you do your degree with Pep. Think he'll slot in fairly quickly.

Does everyone think we are moving to a 4-2-3-1 then? Or is Ferna replacement in the number 6?

I think it could be 4-2-3-1 in games where Cancelo is pushed up further in attack. Then Phillips could give solid protection behind him. If Walker plays we could still play a 4-3-3.

 

[Lee1983]

Welcome Kalvin, hopefully he can go quietly about his business and settle in well for us. All the best lad!

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Hard to get too excited about a DM when the one we have played so well last season.

It's a weird one because we absolutely need another one, but anyone we bring in will be seen as either an attempt to replace Rodri (which we don't want because we love Rodri) or "just a back-up" (which isn't very inspiring).

Everything you say there is of course correct, but I think it’s actually very difficult to buy back-up/rotation players. It’s far more difficult than just cherry picking the best player you can find. I guess the most important considerations are how he fits in with the group, is he likely to buy into being rotated or will he kick up a fuss, and does he offer a little bit of flexibility/versatility and some attributes that others in his position(s) don’t have.

And on every single point, Kalvin Phillips is perfect for our requirements. More than simply maintaining the atmosphere in the squad, I think he’ll enhance it, he seems a great guy. He’ll fit in great with the core English group especially. He can play as both a 6 and an 8 which is ideal, and he also offers a dynamism and energy that is outside of Rodri’s skill set. So he’s perfect. Great signing at a great price.

 

[Burtonblue]

I can hear the sweet sound of piss boiling at this deal….

 

[ONTHERUNWITHTHAKSIN]

Wasn’t really arsed for this but if it boils the piss of the line dancers I’m in

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

No you can't but in an accounting sense you can.

£37m on a 5 year deal (Gyabi being free) is £7.4m a year (without wages).

£42m on a 5 year deal (Gyabi being £5m) is £8.4m a year but just £3.4m this year (without wages).

So in an accounting sense it's been done to give us better options this summer.

Phillips being signed for £42m over 5 years costs us £8.4m per year.

Gyabi being sold for £5m goes straight towards the accounts. In effect that means if we sign someone over five years we could spend £25m or half the fee, accounts wise, for Haaland.

Gyabi would not be allowed to be classed as free for tax purposes.

 

[1961_vintage]

Excellent addition.

 

[Gumzy97]

 

[Bewar3them00n]

I think he’ll thrive under Pep, like most players do, & having world class players around him will up his game too. Pep has a good track record on bringing in the right players.

 

[1961_vintage]

If Cucurella signs and Sterling stays then this will be the most complete squad we've ever had

Ederson, Ortega

Walker Cancelo

Stones, Dias, Laporte, Ake

Cucurella, Zinchenko

Rodri, Phillips

De Bruyne , Gundogan

Silva ,Grealish

Foden, Sterling

Mahrez , Palmer

Haaland, Alvarez

Talk about 2 class players for each position - it seems we've finally reached the holy grail!

I think Pep wants the quad.

 

[hihosilva]

I see this as a bit of a strange move for Phillips especially with the world cup this year. He's going to be second fiddle to Rodri so probably going to find himself warming the bench a lot, which is not ideal preparation for the world cup.

 

[Stockport mackem]

This is a very smart signing.....seriously good move

 

[metalblue]

I see this as a bit of a strange move for Phillips especially with the world cup this year. He's going to be second fiddle to Rodri so probably going to find himself warming the bench a lot, which is not ideal preparation for the world cup.

He obviously backs himself. Exactly the sort of player we want

 

[waspish]

I see this as a bit of a strange move for Phillips especially with the world cup this year. He's going to be second fiddle to Rodri so probably going to find himself warming the bench a lot, which is not ideal preparation for the world cup.

If anything he be fitter fresher for Southgate who will pick him so it’s a good thing for England

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Get the soul glow representative from Brighton and we have the quintessential worse collective of hairstyles since whitesnake, dark times )8

 

[hihosilva]

If anything he be fitter fresher for Southgate who will pick him so it’s a good thing for England

Yeah but they should all be pretty fresh after only playing half a season.

 

[AColdNightInStoke]

Can’t say I’m thrilled, but I’ll trust Pep - he’ll be a good squad addition.

 

[pudge]

I know he needs the rest and rotation but I was looking forward to seeing Rodri play his 200th game for us next season, his fourth...