However, the 27-year-old has found himself in a peripheral role at the Etihad Stadium, starting only five of his 26 appearances in all competitions. Rodri is the undisputed first-choice holding midfielder at Manchester City. Even when Rodri was suspended for three domestic games, Guardiola chose not to start Phillips in two Premier League matches, opting for 18-year-old full-back Rico Lewis and Bernardo Silva instead.
Summer signings Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes have also been preferred over Phillips in midfield this season. Additionally, John Stones, recently recovered from injury, is another option for Guardiola, following an impressive run in midfield during the latter part of the previous season. While Phillips still has five years left on his contract at the Etihad, his prolonged lack of playing time has raised concerns about his future at the club.
Recent reports suggest that Phillips is likely to leave Manchester City during the January transfer window, with interest from several Premier League clubs. However, he remains uncertain about his future. Football Insider now reports that the England international is considering leaving Manchester City in the New Year and exploring the possibility of joining another Premier League club.
Both West Ham United and Newcastle United are seen as potential destinations for Phillips, but any interested club would need to be prepared to pay around £45 million for the midfielder. Other Premier League teams like Arsenal, Everton, and Liverpool have also expressed interest in Phillips. Arsenal, in particular, reportedly considers him their top midfield target for the winter transfer window.
There's also been talk of a potential move to Bayern Munich, with head coach Thomas Tuchel in search of a new deep-lying midfielder.
